Deep South Center for OH&S Headline News
Click the video, to view UAB School of Public Health students in the Industrial Hygiene Masters program.
Bill Weems Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award
Bill Weems, DrPH, CIH, Board Member and alumni of the UAB School of Public Health, was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Alabama Governor’s Safety and Health Conference.
Bill was recognized for his tremendous contributions to the field of occupational health and safety, especially in the state of Alabama. Bill served our state for over 40 years of as Director of Division of Environmental and Industrial Programs for the University of Alabama.
One of Weems’ major accomplishments was his efforts before Congress to include language in the OSH Act that provided statutory recognition of the On-site Consultation Program. Ultimately, the Act was amended to include a subsection that required the establishment of a compliance assistance program by which employers can consult with state personnel regarding the application of, and compliance with, OSHA standards.
Weems also led a team in the development of the Safety and Health Program Assessment Worksheet, the Consultation Program’s measurement tool that captures essential elements of an effective safety and health management system.
Bill graduated from the UAB Program in 1993 and has served on the ERC’s Board of Advisors since 1990.
Ergonomics Student Design Competition
The Ergonomics Student Design Competition will open for registration on Labor Day (September 7, 2009 this year). This is the only ergonomics student design competition. The competition web site is www.ErgonomicsDesign.org and it explains the competition, the key dates, and the rules for teams. The key dates are:
♦ Labor Day (September 7, 2009) – Registration opens
♦ September 22 - Training session
♦ October 15 – Registration closes
♦ November 4 – Initial problems due
♦ November 10 – Final problem due
♦ Early 2010 – Awards announced
John Howard, M.D., New Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
I am pleased to announce the selection of John Howard, M.D., as the new director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); he’ll assume his new role on September 8, 2009. Dr. Howard previously served as the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health from 2002 through 2008. He also served as Coordinator of HHS' World Trade Center Health Programs from 2006 to 2008. He will again assume a dual role, and serve as the World Trade Center Programs Coordinator for HHS.
Dr. Howard is one of the nation's leaders in occupational health and worker safety. He has worked with scientists, medical professionals and workers to effectively lead investigations into new and potential health hazards and address workplace health and safety concerns. Importantly, he brings to this position the dedication and passion needed to achieve the safest workplaces possible.
He is board-certified in internal medicine, legal medicine, and occupational medicine. He is also admitted to the practice of medicine and law in the State of California and in the District of Columbia, and he is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court bar. He has written numerous articles on occupational health, law, and policy and serves as a Professorial Lecturer in Environmental and Occupational Health in the School of Public Health and Health Services at the George Washington University.
Dr. Howard received a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University of Chicago in 1974, a Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard University School of Public Health in 1982, a Doctor of Laws from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1986, and a Master of Laws degree in Administrative Law and Economic Regulation from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1987.
I would also like to thank Christine Branche, Ph.D., for her excellent work over the past year as Acting Director of NIOSH. Christine will remain at NIOSH and will work with John to ensure a smooth transition of authority and prepare to transition into her next position as a Distinguished Consultant in the Office of the Director.
Please join me in welcoming John back to the leadership of NIOSH and thanking Christine for her service as acting director.
Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.
3rd Annual Environmental & Occupational Safety & Health Institute
Preparing to Protect the Workforce of Tomorrow
Monday, June 14—Thursday
If you are interested in a health-related career, take this opportunity to learn the
scientific principles and practice of occupational and environmental safety and health
3rd Annual Environmental & Occupational Safety & Health Institute webpage
H. Kenneth Dillon – Brian J. Carnahan Pilot Project Research Program
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Need Help Training your Hispanic Workforce? Safe State can help! |
| For more information, click the link below. | |
| http://www.soph.uab.edu/dsc/safestate_hispanicworkforce_training | |
Galileo Awards” program is designed to reward innovative ideas and proposals for new thinking and positive change, any employee at any intelligence agency can submit an essay describing a new idea to improve information sharing. Winners received $5000 and the opportunity to brief their ideas to senior executives in the Intelligence Community (IC), and officials in the executive and legislative branches. One of this year’s winners was UAB School of Public Health, alumnus Mark Mikatavage, DrPH. His winning submission was “Using Risk-Based Outcome Measure and Standardization to Achieve a Globally Networked and Integrated Intelligence Enterprise.” 2008 Galileo winners and finalist papers can be read on the DNI Intelink Web site. For more information on this year’s contest, please click on the Galileo Awards icon on the front page of the DNI Web site.
Mark graduated Summer of 1993
Our mission is to: Develop professionals who protect and promote the health and safety of workers through interdisciplinary education, research and outreach.
Our vision is to: Become a regional center of excellence that promotes occupational health and safety through interdisciplinary education and research.
