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Second Maine Occupational
Safety and Health
Research Symposium
May 21-22, 2003
University of New England Portland Campus
Summary
Report
The
Maine Occupational Research Agenda, or MORA, promotes occupational safety and
health research in Maine. MORA grew out of the Maine Department of Labor’s
first symposium on occupational safety and health research, held in August
2000. The event attracted local, national and international participants and
presenters. Participants expressed support for the MDOL to develop a statewide
occupational safety and health research agenda. As a result, MDOL created the
Maine Occupational Research Agenda
(MORA) and selected a committee to steer its growth.
The Second Maine Occupational Safety and Health Research Symposium, held May 21-22, 2003, was presented in partnership with NIOSH, Maine Department of Labor, Maine Institute for Occupational Health Education, and public and private partners. The Symposium showcased the work of MORA and provided a forum for the exchange of ideas on research into work-related injury and illness prevention and emphasized MORA’s goal to move research into practice. The symposium theme, "Using Research to Improve Workplace Safety and Health," reflects MORA’s interest in joining academic and applied research. Tremendous positive response to this event attests to the strong interest in both the subject and the level of exchange.
The
diversity of presenters, presentations, and participants created a conference
that was "energizing, intense, and
inspiring." (John Rioux, Maine Department of Labor).
·
“
Regional
collaboration at the MORA symposium will provide research-to-practice results
that cross the Maine border and positively impact OSH practices throughout the
region.” (David Valiante, NJ Dept. of Health)
·
“It was a great opportunity to describe New York's
statewide network of occupational health clinics, to hopefully plant the seed
for similar programs in other states, and to receive feedback from the
attendees about how we might improve our clinic network.” (Matt London, NY
Department of Health)
Following the event, Ray Sinclair from NIOSH commented:
"I think the symposium was superb too. It was
thoughtfully organized and well-executed. It is so difficult to sustain
interest in occupational safety and health research these days. Maine has given
the nation a model for state initiatives. I hope it catches on."
The objectives of the Symposium were:
1.
To
present current research findings.
2.
To
foster collaboration among researchers from a broad range of disciplines and
perspectives, and to explore underutilized disciplines and topic areas.
3.
To
identify some best practices in the area of interventions.
4.
To
explore the cost-effectiveness of injury prevention strategies and
interventions.
5.
To
showcase innovative and high technology approaches to research and prevention.
6.
To
continue to promote the implementation of MORA.
7.
To
provide a forum for reporting and fostering research needs identified by MORA.
Feedback
from participants indicates that the objectives were well met.
Keynote presentations
·
Nancy
A. Stout, Ed.D., National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
“Lighting the Way – The Role of Research in Protecting Workers.”
· Glenn Pransky, M.D., Liberty Mutual Safety Research Institute, “How Research Leads to Change.”
Participants
Over 140 participants from 13 states represented a broad spectrum of occupational safety and health interests. Employers, workers, medical providers, government representatives, labor officials and academic researchers interacted to create “a great blend of groups that address occupational health.” The diverse range of participants contributed a variety of perspectives on the issues at hand.
Presentations
Over 70 local, regional, and nationally recognized speakers presented the perspectives of employers, workers, medical practitioners, researchers and government.
Oral presentations were organized in
the following topic sessions:
·
Cultural
and Language Barriers to Occupational Safety & Health
·
Outreach
Partnerships
·
Maine’s
Occupational Health & Safety Data
·
The
Impact of Safety Culture on Injury and Illness
·
Change
Strategies
·
Promoting
a Safe Future: Safety & Health Training in Secondary Schools
·
Issues
for Agricultural Workers
·
Best
Practices in Occupational Health & Safety
·
Best
Practices in Occupational Medicine
·
How to
Measure the Success of Safety Improvements: Intervention Effectiveness Research
·
Cost
Data: What Can We Learn From It?
·
The
Success of Near Miss Reporting Programs
·
Challenges
in Occupational Asthma
·
Concerns
for an Aging Workforce
·
Reducing
Toxic Exposures at Work
·
Monitoring
Occupational Fatalities
·
Back
Injuries in Healthcare Settings
Fifteen posters presented additional
data and information.
In
addition to his slide talk, internationally renowned photojournalist Earl
Dotter exhibited new photos on the Maine fishing industry from his collection
“The Price of Fish: Risking Life and Limb in New England’s Fishing Industry”.
The striking black and white photos added a “superb human worker touch” and
“put a face on occupational health.” Mr. Dotter also made a slide presentation
of this work.
A reception in the University Art Gallery and a lobster bake dinner provided “time to talk to other researchers, state and federal agency representatives” and an “opportunity to interact with others and exchange information and ideas.” The “friendly, comfortable setting” encouraged networking.
Evaluative Feedback
Content: Excellent – 84% of respondents Good – 16% of respondents
Comments:
“This
is the best conference I have ever attended.”
“Excellent
and important conference... This should be promoted and continued at all
costs.”
“The
conference was very well organized and the presenters all showed a concerted
effort to address the main concerns of the conference. I thoroughly enjoyed the
conference and found it a very valuable experience.”
“I
will be able to relate information in my teaching that is beyond the basic OSHA
standards.”
“Good
opportunity for professionals and others in the field to exchange information.”
“A
lot of fast-paced information kept it interesting.”
"Well-
organized,
executed and received."
·
Better audiovisual
equipment and assistance.
Research ideas
MORA
as the first fully developed state level model for an occupational safety and
health research agenda was enthusiastically encouraged.
Partnerships
As a result of connections made at the Symposium, partnerships are being explored between various public and private entities. Possible projects involve toxic exposures, aging workers, and cost analysis, among others. The fruit of these collaborations will enrich the next Maine research symposium.