Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences

Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences is a research institute based at Oregon Health & Science University, in Portland. The Institute's mission is to promote health, and prevent disease and disability among working Oregonians and their families during their employment years and through retirement. It does this through basic and applied research, outreach and education.

Institute History

The Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences was formed in 1985 by Oregon House Bill 2290 in the Oregon Legislative Assembly to conduct occupational health disease research as the Center for Occupational Disease Research. Base funding was designated from the State of Oregon Workers' Compensation income. The Center was renamed as the Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, or CROET, in 1989. CROET was again renamed Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences in January 2014 in order to better address Oregon's range of workplace needs and prevention of disease.[1] Competitively awarded research grants support the Institute in excess of double the base funding amount.[2]

Institute Research

The Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences conducts research on the following topics:

Dr. Steven Shea, Ph.D., a sleep and circadian rhythm researcher, is the Director of the Institute, selected in 2013.[9] The founding Director was Dr. Peter Spencer, Ph.D.

The Oregon Healthy Workforce Center, a Center of Excellence funded by NIOSH, is housed within the Institute.[10][11]

The Institute houses the Oregon Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program, OR-FACE, a NIOSH sponsored program designed to prevent occupational fatalities.[12][13][14]

Education and Engagement

The Institute supports a Toxicology and Occupational Health Information Center providing information, resources and continuing education to the public and occupational health, safety and wellness professionals. The most publicized assistance by this Center was to a Portland hair salon regarding the use of a non-labeled formaldehyde-containing hair straightening product, leading to national and international alerts and warnings.[15][16][17]

References
  1. "Oregon Laws 2013 Chapter 111" (PDF). Oregon State Legislature. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  2. "Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences 2012-13 Biennial Report" (PDF). Oregon Workers' Compensation Management-Labor Advisory Committee. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  3. "How extra sleep can help Oregon's workplaces". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  4. Wipfli, B; Olson, R; Koren, M (2013). "Weight Loss Maintenance Among SHIFT Pilot Study Participants 30-Months Post-Intervention". Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 55 (1): 1–3. doi:10.1097/JOM.0b013e31827db848. PMC 3547666. PMID 23291953.
  5. "Removing DNA repair gene causes metabolic syndrome". PsychCentral. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  6. "Paper of the Month: Study shows positive repair of UV-induced DNA damage in skin cells". OHSU School of Medicine News. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  7. "OHSU: Late night snacks equal weight gain". KGW News. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  8. "OHSU's Dr. Steven Shea discusses his research on hunger and the circadian clock". YouTube OHSUvideo. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  9. "OHSU Center Dedicated to Workplace Health and Safety Appoints New Director". The Lund Report. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  10. "Centers of Excellence to Promote a Healthier Workforce". NIOSH. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  11. "Oregon Healthy Workforce Center Publications". Oregon Healthy Workforce Center. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  12. "Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program". NIOSH. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  13. "Oregon Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation". OHSU. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  14. "National Truckers Association Safety Issues: Truck Driver Crushed between semi-trailer and loading dock". National Truckers Association. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  15. "NIOSH Science Blog: Hair, Formaldehyde, and Industrial Hygiene". NIOSH. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  16. "Brazilian Blowout complaint started in Portland, ends in class-action settlement". Oregon Live. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  17. "Emerging Issues and Alerts". OHSU. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
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