Research on new technologies, methodologies and strategies for preventing injuries in the workplace will be highlighted at the National Occupational Injury Research Symposium 2000 (NOIRS 2000), Oct. 17-19, in Pittsburgh, Pa.
NOIRS 2000 is sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) along with the American Society of Safety Engineers and the Liberty Mutual Research Center for Safety and Health.
"Each day in the United States, 16 workers are killed on the job and 7,200 suffer disabling occupational injuries," said NIOSH Director Linda Rosenstock. "Through research using today''s cutting-edge science, the factors that put workers at risk can be better identified, and more effective preventive measures can be designed. NOIRS provides a needed national forum for sharing the most recent findings and recommendations in this area."
NOIRS will feature presentations by more than 200 scientists and engineers from industry, labor, government and academia.
More than 400 attendees are expected at the Symposium.
Among other topics, NOIRS will address:
- Identification of occupational injury risk factors for special worker population such as younger and older workers, Hispanic workers and physically challenged workers.
- Application of virtual reality and other new computer technologies for preventing job-related injuries in high-risk industries, such as construction, mining and agriculture.
- Risk factors and preventive measures for workplace violence.
- New data for preventing motor vehicle-related fatalities, the leading cause of fatal injuries on the job.
- The role of work organization as a factor for occupational injury risk.
- Use of strategic safety and educational programs to reduce needlesticks, musculoskeletal disorders and other serious occupational injury risks in the growing health care workforce.
NOIRS will take place at the Sheraton Hotel Station Square in Pittsburgh. For further information about the agenda, registration and lodging for the Symposium, visit the NOIRS Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh/noirs2000.htm..
by Virginia Sutcliffe