Stress and mental health. In September 2021, NIOSH requested information about interventions to prevent work-related stress and promote mental health and well-being among U.S. health workers. In its Federal Register notice, the agency observed that these challenges have been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has “contributed to new and worsening mental health concerns, including burnout, compassion fatigue, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicidal ideation.” AIHA’s comments (PDF) responded to questions from NIOSH about workplaces with existing mental health services and methods of communicating about mental health services.

Engineered nanomaterials. Last July, NIOSH requested technical review of a draft version of the agency’s publication Approaches to Developing Occupational Exposure Limits or Bands for Engineered Nanomaterials: User Guide and Technical Report. AIHA’s comments (PDF) respond to several questions in the request for information about the draft report’s characterization of OELs and occupational exposure bands, discussion of inhalation exposure, and other issues.

PPE use for underserved users. In June 2021, NIOSH sought feedback from stakeholders on the needs and challenges underserved populations experience when using PPE. AIHA submitted two sets of comments: the first (PDF) shares feedback from members across the association, and the second (PDF) from the AIHA Women in Industrial Hygiene Committee. The comments from WIH identify several issues that need further attention, including the poor fit of PPE due to “universal” sizing, the lack of sizing options for welding helmets and powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) hoods, the inability to alter flame-resistant clothing once it has been purchased, and the poor fit in general of coveralls and body garments. Recommendations for people vaccinated against COVID-19. In May 2021, CDC released interim recommendations stating that fully vaccinated people could abandon the wearing of face coverings and physical distancing except where those practices were required by law. In response, AIHA signed on to a letter (PDF) from several health and safety organizations noting public confusion about the interim recommendations and urging leaders of CDC and DOL to protect workers, businesses, and communities by clarifying the recommendations. Heat injury and illness prevention. OSHA’s advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) on heat injury and illness prevention in outdoor and indoor work settings lists more than100 questions for which the agency sought information from stakeholders. AIHA’s comments, released this year, address many of OSHA’s questions in detail (PDF). Aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Working with subject matter experts within our membership and other associations, in 2021, AIHA succeeded in calling on CDC and OSHA to clarify that SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted via the air. OSHA’s ETS on vaccination and testing noted that “airborne transmission [of SARS-CoV-2] may occur in indoor spaces without adequate ventilation where small respiratory particles are able to remain suspended in the air and accumulate.” Natural disasters. In partnership with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Worker Training Program, AIHA issued new guidance to protect volunteers from COVID-19 during response to and recovery from natural disasters (PDF). WORK WITH CONGRESS AIHA issued an action alert urging members of Congress to prioritize workplace health and safety as they worked on infrastructure legislation throughout 2021. In November, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, which would provide $707 million to OSHA for enforcement, standards development, whistleblower investigations, compliance assistance, funding for state plans, and related activities. The bill would also provide $133 million to MSHA for carrying out enforcement, standard-setting, technical assistance, and related activities.  The appropriations bill for fiscal year 2022 (FY22) passed by the House aligns with AIHA’s recommendations and would provide $691.7 million to OSHA (a $100 million increase over the current funding level) and $360.3 million to NIOSH (a $15 million increase that includes $32 million for NIOSH’s Education and Research Centers). The House report (PDF) for the FY22 bill encourages OSHA to take action on hearing loss prevention by lowering the current permissible exposure limit to an 85 dBA time-weighted average using a 3 dB exchange rate, which is the same recommendation that AIHA and several other organizations have been making for years. This action would also align OSHA with the current exposure limits used by the Department of Defense.  The explanatory statement (PDF) to the Senate’s version of the appropriations bill also encourages OSHA to issue standards on workplace violence prevention, heat stress, and infectious diseases. While the explanatory statement does not carry the force of law, it is a powerful tool for sending messages from congressional leadership to government agencies. This language thus serves as an important metric of progress for the OEHS community.  In April 2021, the House also passed the AIHA-supported Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, which would call on OSHA to issue a workplace violence prevention standard.  Our interactions with legislators also included written testimony to congressional leadership in support of OSHA and NIOSH funding (PDF), a letter from the Friends of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to congressional leadership in support of funding for NIEHS and its Worker Training Program (PDF), and an expression of support for U.S. H.R.1195, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (PDF). State-Level Action on Heat Our volunteers have continued their commitment to public service, stepping forward to serve on Virginia’s Regulatory Advisory Panel, which worked on the state’s proposed heat stress standard. AIHA also submitted comments (PDF) on the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry’s proposal to develop and adopt a standard to reduce or eliminate employee injuries, illnesses, and fatalities due to exposure to excessive heat at indoor and outdoor places of work. Another Virginia bill that we’re monitoring would direct the development of guidelines on policies to educate coaches and student athletes on heat-related illness and preventive activities. In neighboring Maryland, AIHA attended and participated in public hearings on a workplace heat stress standard developed by Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH). Information about this forthcoming standard is available from the MOSH website. Both chambers of the Florida legislature are working on heat illness prevention bills (Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives). A pair of bills in New York (State Assembly and State Senate) would establish maximum heat exposure levels for covered employees. New Jersey, too, is considering a bill that would require public colleges to adopt a policy for preventing and treating heat illness. Deeper Bonds Over the past year-plus, AIHA members have stepped forward to volunteer their expertise in service of protecting workers and their communities throughout the United States. Together, we have forged deeper bonds with policymakers and each other, improving public policies with the power of applied OEHS scientific knowledge. We have shown what dedicated persistence and focus can accomplish. MARK AMES is AIHA’s director of Government Relations.  Editor’s note: Portions of this article were previously published, in different form, on the SynergistNOW blog. Send feedback to The Synergist.