The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Brush Wellman Inc. (BWI) are being honored for their research partnership. Over the past 10 years NIOSH and BWI have worked together to conduct research and develop, test and communicate a new model for working safely with beryllium and beryllium-containing materials.
The National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Partnering Award for Worker Health and Safety will be presented to a group of NIOSH and Brush Wellman representatives at the sixth biannual NORA Symposium July 29 in Denver. Unveiled in 1996 by NIOSH, NORA is a partnership program to stimulate innovative research and improved practices to better protect workers.
“For the past decade, Brush Wellman has worked closely with our research colleagues at NIOSH and we are extremely proud of the excellent results produced by our collaboration – results dedicated to the safety and health of beryllium workers everywhere,” said David C. Deubner, MD, vice president of occupational and environmental medicine, Brush Wellman. “We believe that our partnership truly represents one of the best examples of research-to-practice in occupational safety and health. Beryllium workers throughout the industry are better off today due to the acquired knowledge and innovative training tools that have been disseminated as a result of the joint effort.”
“We are delighted to recognize Brush Wellman for its exemplary teamwork, innovative thinking, and strong science in the interest of worker health and safety,” said Dr. Denny Dobin, chairman of the NORA Partnering Award subcommittee.
Present in Denver to accept the award on behalf of Brush Wellman are Kellie R. Fowler, a lead operator in the Beryllium Products Powdering unit of the Elmore, Ohio, production facility, and Dr. Deubner.
The cooperative research included direct involvement by workers from several Brush Wellman plant sites in study development, participating as study subjects, communicating results to fellow workers and implementing changes to reduce beryllium exposure in the workplace.
Aided by its research partnership with NIOSH, Brush Wellman has developed a first-of-its-kind innovative computer-based e-learning tool that combines a video host and an on-screen questionnaire allowing employees and employers to develop a customized safety plan tailored to their specific applications and worksite. A free CD copy of the “Interactive Guide to Working Safely with Beryllium and Beryllium-Containing Materials,” can be requested online at www.brushwellman.com.
Brush Wellman Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brush Engineered Materials Inc., which is headquartered in Cleveland. Brush Engineered Materials, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, supplies worldwide markets with beryllium products, alloy products, electronic products, precious metal products and engineered material systems.