June 14, 2004—Research to Practice (r2p) is a new initiative of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) that focuses on the transfer and translation of research findings, technologies, and information into highly effective prevention practices and products which are adopted in the workplace. The new r2p Web page includes related resources; information on stakeholder meetings, conferences, and public comment opportunities; pilot studies; and more.
Several recent NIOSH successes exemplify the types of activities the new r2p initiative is designed to promote and enhance:
Do-it-Yourself Kit for Detecting Mold:
NIOSH developed an innovation that provides the basis for a new, commercially available do-it-yourself kit to detect the mold Stachybotrys chartarum. S. chartarum is a toxigenic mold commonly found in chronically water-damaged buildings. Determining if a building is contaminated with S. chartarum has been difficult due to the lack of a good detection device. The NIOSH-developed species-specific monoclonal antibody is being used as a diagnostic reagent in this novel technology kit. This kit provides building inspectors, industrial hygienists, and homeowners with a simple tool to detect the mold in less than 5 minutes. For more information contact Detlef Schmechel.
Reducing Worker Exposure to Asphalt Fumes:
A unique government, industry, and labor partnership was formed to reduce worker exposure to asphalt fumes during paving operations. In a departure from the traditional occupational safety and health (OSH) approach, government researchers partnered with representatives from industry and labor to create a cooperative research effort. The research partnership included all US manufacturers of highway-class asphalt paving equipment, numerous paving contractors, and the full participation of labor unions representing paving workers. This partnership was successful in developing practical, effective control systems to control asphalt fume exposures, and a voluntary agreement to incorporate these controls on all newly manufactured highway pavers. See the related NIOSH Publication (No. 97-105): Engineering Control Guidelines for Hot Mix Asphalt Pavers.
Hand Wipe Method for Detecting Lead:
Through a simple color change, a NIOSH-developed hand wipe method quickly and easily detects the presence of lead on both the skin and on surfaces in industries where lead is produced or used. This alert prompts workers to identify exposures and perform more thorough hand washing to decrease the risks of taking home toxins and ingesting lead during eating, drinking, or smoking. Through this novel technology, lead exposure can be reduced for more than 10,000 workers and 900,000 children in the United States. NIOSH has patented, commercially licensed, and disseminated information on this method. For more information contact Eric Esswein.
