Laboratory Information:
NIOSH - Spokane Research Laboratory
315 E. Montgomery Avenue
Spokane, WA 99207-2291
Website: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/contact/im-srl.html
Agency/Department: Dept. of Health and Human Services
Region: Far West
FLC Laboratory Representative:
Ms. Kathleen Goedel
Phone: (513) 533-8686
Fax: (513) 533-8660
Email: kgoedel@cdc.gov
Background/History of the Laboratory:
The National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the
federal agency responsible for conducting field and
laboratory research on the full scope of occupational disease
and injury. In addition to conducting research, NIOSH
investigates potentially hazardous working conditions when
requested by employers or employees; makes recommendations
and disseminates information on preventing workplace disease,
injury, and disability; and provides training to occupational
safety and health professions. NIOSH is an organization made
up of employees representing a wide range of disciplines
including industrial hygiene, nursing, epidemiology,
engineering, medicine, and statistics. The Spokane Research
Laboratory (SRL) pursues an innovative program to promote the
health and safety of the Nation's miners by delivering on
the Nation's promise: Safety and health for all mine and
other workers through research and prevention.
Mission of the Laboratory:
The SRL mission
is to provide quality leadership in the prevention of
work-related illness, injury, and death in the extractive
industries in the western United States by
-
Tracking
fatal and nonfatal traumatic injuries, occupational
diseases, health and safety hazards, and the use of
control technology in the extractive industries, with a
focus on issues unique to mine workers in the Western
states, such as those associated with deep metal mines,
western coal mines, and precious metal
deposits;
-
Conducting
field investigations, health hazard evaluations, and
laboratory studies of occupational diseases, injuries, and
fatalities;
-
Conducting
laboratory and field investigations to better understand
the causes of catastrophic events that may lead to multiple
injuries and fatalities, such as collapse of underground
workings, massive slope failures, and collapse of mine
structures;
-
Developing
tests and demonstrations of sensors, predictive models, and
engineering control technologies to reduce miners'
risks for injury or death;
-
Preparing and
recommending appropriate criteria for new standards, NIOSH
policy, documents, or testimony related to health and
safety in the extractive industries; and
-
Creating
underground and surface health and safety training
tools.
Facilities:
Technology Transfer Mechanisms:
- Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs)
- Patents and Licensing
- Technical Assistance
Technology Areas of Expertise:
- Mine condition simulation and modeling
- Mining equipment design study
- Mining Injury and Disease Prevention
- Mining Surveillance and Statistical Support
- Risk factor identification
- Underground and surface mine injury prevention
