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NOTE: A user name and password are required to download the ViTS presentation files. If you wish to download any of these files and don't have a user name/password please contact either Kurt Geber or Bart Geyer.
Environmental Health ViTS Archive

2008

June 11 - FDA's Voluntary Retail Food Program Standards

  • Summary - Alan Tart, Regional Retail Food Specialist with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, was the primary presenter at the ViTS. He provided an overview of the FDA's Voluntary Retail Food Program Standards. Alan provided insight into the FDA's standards, the objectives of the standards, and the benefits of complying with the standards. Alan concluded the session with a discussion regarding online resources available through the FDA's website.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. FDA Presentation

May 14 - Assessment, Remediation and Causal Factor Analysis of Mold Growth in HVAC Systems

  • Summary - Paul Buckmaster, MS, CIH, CIEC, Director, Corporate Outreach & Special Projects for the NSA, was the primary presenter at the ViTS. He provided an overview of the NSA's Mold Management efforts which emphasized proactive actions taken to both eliminate and prevent mold contamination from occurring in HVAC systems. Paul's presentation provided insight into the NSA's strategy for managing mold growth in their HVAC systems. A focus of the presentation was the use of a new device utilizing fluorescence technology, called the Mycometer, which provides nearly real time results of the level of mold activity found in bulk materials. Lisa Rogers representative of the Mycometer company provided additional information at the ViTS regarding the Mycometer and other similar real time technologies currently available. The introduction, NSA, and Mycometer presentations can be found below.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Mold Management Presentation
    3. Mycometer Presentation

Apr 9 - Beryllium

  • Summary - Bill McArthur, PhD, CIH, Director of DOE's Office of Worker Safety and Health Policy, was the primary presenter at the ViTS. He provided an overview of the DOE's Beryllium Rule, 10 CFR Part 850, Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program. Bill provided insight into the DOE rule's background, current DOE efforts to track employees potentially exposed to Beryllium, and aspects of the rule such as the exposure decontamination limits, medical monitoring, and training. Following Bill's presentation Jeff Dalhoff from Goddard gave a brief presentation concerning operations involving Beryllium at Goddard and the steps they had taken to prevent overexposures.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. DOE Presentation
    3. Goddard Presentation

Mar 12 - AIHA/ANSI Z9 Ventilation Standards Update

  • Summary - Jack Price, PE, CIH, CSP, the current vice chair of the AIHA/ANSI Z9 committee, was the one primary presenter at the ViTS. The scope of the AIHA/ANSI Z9 Ventilation Standards Z9 committee work encompasses standards for the design, operation and maintenance of equipment to provide a safe atmosphere in industrial, manufacturing or construction operations by removing harmful substances by either local exhaust or general ventilation and safely disposing of such substances, and such supplementary standards on personal protection as may be necessary to prescribe methods for the protection of workers. At the ViTS Jack provided an overview of the standards and an update on recent revision efforts.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. AIHA/ANSI Z9 Ventilation Standards Overview

Feb 12 - IH Data Management

  • Summary - There was one primary presenter at the ViTS, Dave Risi, a veteran in the EH software industry. Dave spoke from NASA HQ regarding the subject of IH Data Management. The presentation included information regarding
    1. an overview of IH data management
    2. a brief history of IH data management hardware/software and where we are today
    3. current database/software technology
    4. build vs. buy
    5. where IH data management going in the future
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. IH Data Management

Jan 9 - Project Constellation and EH Impact at NASA Centers

  • Summary - The Constellation Project is designed to send us back to the Moon and possibly Mars, but to do this our NASA Centers need to construct new facilities and will undertake many new operations related to this new program. During this ViTS, eight Centers presented information regarding some of the changes at their sites and some of the related EH impacts. The Centers were; Stennis, Michoud, Johnson, White Sands, Ames, Langley, Glenn (& Plum Brook) and Kennedy. All of the presentations are attached below, including the introduction presentation.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Stennis
    3. Michoud
    4. Johnson (no presentation)
    5. White Sands
    6. Ames
    7. Glenn / Plum Brook
    8. Langley
    9. Kennedy

2007

Dec 13 - Current IH Management Issues and Trends

  • Summary - There was two primary presenters at the ViTS, Steve Newell and Dee Woodhull both Senior Consultants with ORC Worldwide. (www.orc-dc.com/osh_page.htm). The two presenters spoke from NASA HQ regarding current H&S Management Issues and Trends. They presented information on topics such as demonstrating value, metrics, and management systems. They also highlighted a tool they have posted on their website regarding nanotechnology (www.orc-dc.com/Nano.Guidelines.Matrix.htm) that includes input from the ORC member organizations. Attached below is the introduction presentation and both Steve and Dee's combined presentation.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. IH Management Issues and Trends

Nov 14 - IH Involvement with Construction and Service Contracts

Oct 10 - Trends in Gas Detection Instrumentation

  • Summary - There was one main presenter at the ViTS, followed by a few Centers sharing about some of the Instrumentation they are currently using. The main presenter was Chris Wrenn who gave a presentation entitled Trends in Handheld Gas Detection Equipment. The presentation discussed five current trends affecting instrumentation; commoditization, measurement management, handheld speciation (orthogonality), increasing functionality from portable wireless sensing networks, and moving from detection to decision. After Chris spoke, Marshall, Glenn and JPL staff all shared information regarding instruments they are using at their respective Centers.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Trends in Handheld Gas Detection Equipment
    3. IH Instruments used at Glenn

Sep 12 - Lunar Dust Toxicology and Center EH Nanotechnology Programs

  • Summary - There were 4 presenters at the ViTS. The first was Dr. Noreen Khan-Mayberry, toxicologist at JSC, who gave a presentation on the toxicology of lunar dust and lunar simulants. After that presentation, Glenn (Luz Jeziorowski), Ames (Tomoko Ishihara) and Goddard (Jeff Dalhoff) all gave overviews of their respective Center Nanotechnology EH Programs. The overviews discussed some of the policies, worker training, work practices, controls, etc. that have been implemented at the Centers for nanomaterials work.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Lunar Dust Toxicology
    3. Glenn Nanotechnology EH Program
    4. Ames Nanotechnology Program
    5. Goddard Nanotechnology Program

Aug 8 - Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) Preparation

  • Summary - The main presenters at the ViTS were Carter Ficklen, CIH, and Brian Vandevender, CIH, both from Langley Research Center. Carter Ficklen (LaRC) gave information concerning CIH application requirements and application process, insights, strategies, and tips for passing the exam on the first try, and slides from a presentation from a CIH who passed on the 2nd attempt. Brian Vandevender (LaRC) concluded the session with some insight into his testing experience in May of 2007, when he successfully passed the exam.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. CIH Preparation

Jul 12 - EPA's Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI)

  • Summary - The main presenter at the ViTS was Stephen Vespers, PhD, a research scientist with the US EPA. Dr. Vespers presentation focused on the the EPA's Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI), what it is, how it was developed, and how it can be applied. The ERMI uses PCR technology to analyze dust samples and provide analysis which provides the determincation of genus and species of all the molds present in the dust sample. The ERMI score is created and can be used to determine a relative mold index, which then can be used to compare the relative moldiness between one building and another. Current and future studies are planned to link the rate of health concerns or symptoms to the ERMI.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. DNA-Based Mold Analysis and Applying the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI)

Jun 13 - Lunar Dust & Lunar Simulants

May 9 - Integrating EH&S at JPL, CoF Funding, and Buy Quiet Resources

Apr 26 - OSHA VPP Special Government Employee (SGE) Program

  • Summary - The presenters at the ViTS were Carla Slaughter, OSHA SGE Program Coordinator, providing an overview of the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Special Government Employee (SGE) program. Following Carla, Sherri Nickell (KSC/USA IH), Toby Holwaty (JSC/WYLE IH) and Case Van Dyke (WSTF/Jacobs) gave presentations about their personal experiences with the VPP SGE program. The ViTS was intended to provide an overview of the SGE program and provide personal commentary on the many benefits of SGE involvement from personnel working at NASA Centers. Attached are 4 presentations given during the ViTS.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Carla Slaughter's Presentation
    3. Sherri Nickell's Presentation
    4. Toby Holowaty's Presentation

Mar 13 - American Industrial Hygiene Association Update

  • Summary - The main presenters at the ViTS were Peter O'Neil, American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Assistant Executive Director, and Aaron Trippler, AIHA Government Affairs Director. Peter presented overview information on AIHA, some of their current initiatives (value of the profession, young professionals, ethics, etc.), and discussed some of the challenges that organizations like AIHA face today with an aging membership base. His presentation is attached. Aaron Trippler then provided commentary and insight into the IH related happenings in the government discussing issues such as nanotechnology funding in NIOSH and current priorities for OSHA. Attached are 3 documents that Aaron discussed in part or in whole during the ViTS.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. AIHA Update Presentation
    3. AIHA Government Affairs Documents
      • AIHA's paper on the Top Public Policy Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety Issues for 2007
      • AIHA's letter to OSHA commenting on recent Globally Harmonized Systems (GHS) proposal
      • March 13th edition of Happenings on the Hill which summarizes what is going on with current government related IH issues.

Feb 15 - Risk Assessent Techniques

  • Summary - The main presenter at the ViTS was Dr. Dennis Paustenbach, PhD, CIH, DABT. Dr. Paustenbach focused on the discussion of two Risk Assessment techniques Simulat ion and Dose Reconstruction that are used for a variety of reasons such as; to fill data gaps in the exposure history of a worker, to improve the quality of the exposure component of an epidem iology study, and to characterize legitimacy of claims within the litigation setting. During th e ViTS, Dr. Paustenbach presented a variety of case studies involving these techniques and descr ibed how and when they can be applied.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Role of Simulation and Dose Reconstruction Studies in Epidemiology and Risk Assessment

Jan 10 - Occupational Exposures

  • Summary - The main presenter at the ViTS was William "Billy" Bullock, MSPH, CIH, CSP, co-author of the recent AIHA publication entitled A Strategy for Assessing and Managing Occupational Exposures, 3rd edition. During the ViTS, Billy provided an overview of this publication and highlighted the changes from the 2nd edition published in 1998. The current publication addresses additional environmental stressors such as radiation and ergonomics, and also addresses work operations beyond a standard continuous production process, such as laboratory operation and batch processes.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Overview of A Strategy for Assessing and Managing Occupational Exposures, 3rd edition

2006

Dec 13 - Hazard Communication and Nanotechnology

  • Summary - The main presenter at the ViTS was Bruce Lippy, Ph.D. CIH, CSP, a member of the IH staff at Goddard. He gave a presentation that discussed some of the hazard communication issues involving nanotechnology. The presentation highlighted many of the shortfalls in current hazard communication efforts in the nanotechnology area.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Hazard Communication and Nanotechnology

Nov 15 - IH: Smoking in the Workplace

  • Summary - The main presenter at the ViTS was Tom Samson, CIH, Safety, Health and Environmental Manager for Wyle Labs on the Bioastronautics contract at JSC. He gave a presentation that discussed smoking from an industrial hygiene perspective, comparing the exposures of smoking with recognized industrial hygiene exposure limits and addressing government fatality rates attributed to smoking.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Smoking in the Workplace - An IH Perspective

Oct 12 - Noise: Buy Quiet and Quiet-by-Design

  • Summary - The main presenter at the ViTS was Beth Cooper, Manager, Acoustical Testing Laboratory at NASA's Glenn Research Center. She spoke on the Buy Quiet and Quiet by Design Programs which have recently become Agency requirements in the newly revised Hearing Conservation NPR chapter. These programs put an emphasis on procuring or designing equipment that factor noise emission levels into the purchasing process.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Buy Quiet and Quiet-by-Design

Sep 14 - Presenting Health & Safety Data

Aug 28 - IH Update on Heavy Metals

  • Summary - The main presenter at the ViTS was Dan Adley, CIH, CSP with KTA-Tator. He spoke from Glenn Research Center. Dan provided an update from an IH perspective on the management of projects involving surface coatings containing heavy metals. Following the session there was general discussion regarding the use of real time paint sampling equipment such as XRFs. A spec sheet on a new piece of detection equipment which uses an X-ray tube and is able to detect multiple metals is included below.i
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Heavy Metals Update
    3. Specification Sheet for the Innov-X Tube based Alpha Series

Jul 28 - Chemwatch Update

  • Summary - During this ViTS Paul Ruez provided an online realtime update of the Agency provided Chemwatch (http://nasa.chemwatch.us/) service which provides hazardous material information online. He spoke from Glenn Research Center Because of the Chemwatch presentation being online there was only an introduction presentation. If you have questions, comments or concerns regarding the Chemwatch service, please contact Paul Ruez (pruez@chemwatchna.com). The ViTS was abbreviated due to scheduling conflicts.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction

Jun 26 - KSC Food Sanitation

May 10 - Ergonomics

Apr 12 - EH Training Programs

Mar 15 - IH Particulate Sampling

  • Summary - The main presenter at the ViTS was Debbie Dietrich, CIH with SKC technical sales. She spoke from Johnson. She gave two main presentations one on current particulate sampling equipment and protocols and the second presentations on IH mysteries.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. NASA Particulates
    3. IH Mysteries

Feb 23 - Investigative Photography

AresJ-X2

Jan 11 - Mold Remediation Worker Training and Management

2005

Dec 21 - AIHA Products and Services Update and Getting Published

Nov 16 - IH Performance Metrics

Nov 1 - Special Vits - ANSI Z10 OHSMS Standard

  • Summary - The ViTS focused on the recently finalized ANSI Z10 OHS Management Systems Standard. The chair of the ANSI Z10 Committee, Alan Leibowitz gave the presentation
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. ANSI Z10 Overview

Oct 21 - Occupational Health and Nanotechnology

Sep 21 - Food Safety Update

  • Summary - The ViTS had three presentations; 1) Introduction, 2) EH support in response to Hurricane Katrina at NASA Michoud and NASA Stennis, and the 3) Food Safety presentation. The food safety presentation from Mary Anne Hogue was very informative and provided useful information concerning the design, structure, and implementation of a quality food sanitation program.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. EH Support of Katrina at MAF & SSC
    3. Food Safety Presentation

Aug 17 - Hearing Conservation Training

Jul 20 - OH Conference Recap and Center Exposure Assessment Programs

Jun 15 - OSHA Lab Standard & Chemical Hygiene Plans (CHPs)

May 18 - Biosafety Programs

Apr 20 - Industrial Hygiene Report Writing

  • Summary - There were 3 primary presenters at the ViTS. The first was Susan McDonald, author of the AIHA's White Book’s chapter on Report Writing, she gave a presentation focused on an appropriate structure and format for a typical IH report. The second speaker was Stennis IH Tim Hallmark, who provided an overview presentation on their IH report format and structure. The third speaker was Kennedy IH Robin Kramer, who also provided an overview presentation on their IH report format and structure.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. IH Report Writing
    3. Stennis IH Report Overview
    4. Kennedy IH Report Overview

Mar 16 - Recent Legal Developments and Decisions Impacting Workplace H&S

  • Summary - There was one primary presenter at the ViTS, David Sarvadi, lawyer with Keller & Heckman. David's presentation discussed some of the recent legal recent legal developments and decisions impacting workplace health and safety. Some of the topics discussed included; new OSHA guidelines and guidance documents, OSHA regulatory agenda and rulemakings, Permissible Exposure Limits, precedent setting cases, legislative developments, and the new OSHA Administrator. A Q&A session followed the presentation.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Recent Legal Developments and Decisions Impacting Workplace H&S

Feb 16 - Introduction to Control Banding

  • Summary - There was one main presenter at the ViTS, David Zalk, CIH, MPH, an Industrial Hygienist at DOE's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The presentation provided an introduction to Control Banding by covering the following topics; What is control banding? definition of control banding terms, control banding history, IOHA & collaborations internationally, COSHH essentials toolkit, ergonomics toolkits, and National control banding efforts.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Introduction to Control Banding

Jan 19 - Toxicity of Ultrafine Particles & Center Nanotechnology Training Presentations

  • Summary - There was two primary presenters at the ViTS, Dr. Vincent Castranvova from NIOSH and Dr. David Loftus from NASA Ames. Dr. Castranova's presentation summarized the research concerning toxicity of Ultrafine and the relationship of ultrafines to nanotechnology health exposure concerns. Dr. Loftus's presentation provided an overview of his research at NASA Ames involving nanotechnology and focused on some of the controls that have implemented to minimize exposure to nanoparticles. Also attached below are two training presentations (hazard communication) designed for employees working with nanomaterials. One presentation is from Glenn the other is from Langley.
  • Presentations
    1. ViTS Introduction
    2. Toxicity of Ultrafine Particles
    3. Carbon Nanotubes applications at NASA Ames
    4. Training presentation from Glenn
    5. Training presentation from Langley
Health Physics ViTS Archive

2008

May 07 - Current Nuclear Regulatory Issues

  • Summary - Mr. Christian Einberg, a Senior Project Manager with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Source Safety and Security Branch, presented information on current initiatives at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission relevant to NASA radioactive materials licensees. During this informative talk, Mr. Einberg addressed topics related to the NRC’s recent orders concerning risk significant radioactive materials and increased controls for quantities of concern. He discussed trustworthiness and reliability protocols, fingerprinting issues, and lessons learned from site inspections. It was a very interactive ViTS with excellent participation by center personnel.
  • Presentation

Feb 06 - Agency Updates and Initiatives

  • Summary - The main focus for this videoconference was planning for the upcoming triennial NASA Health Physics Conference scheduled for May 12-16, 2008 in Cocoa Beach / Kennedy Space Center, Florida. In addition, OCHMO-sponsored training events were discussed with emphasis on the Radio Frequency Radiation Safety Course hosted at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Outdoor laser issues discussed included an update on the DoD Laser Clearinghouse registration process by Ted Simmons, LSO at Goddard Space Flight Center, and an update on the recent SAE G10-T meeting by NASA Senior Environmental Health Officer, Guy Camomilli. Highlights of the Health Physics Society Midyear Meeting on Radiation Generating Devices were provided by Kurt Geber.
  • Presentation

2007

Dec 04 - Medical Surveillance Policy Discussion for Authorized Laser Operators

  • Summary - There has been a lot of concern at the Center-level over the softening of medical surveillance requirements in the 2007 revision of ANSI Z136.1. Drs. Leon N. McLin, OD, Senior Research Optometrist , Douglas Ivan, MD, former chief of ophthalmology, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks City Base, and Bruce E. Stuck, MS, Sc.D., Director of the U.S. Army Medical Research Detachment of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research collocated with Directed Energy Air Force and Navy Groups at Brooks City-Base discuss the merits and disadvantages of medical surveillance for laser operators.
  • Presentations

Sept 18 - ABHP Certification Program

  • Summary - In this ViTS, Kurt Geber, CHP, discussed the agency’s current interest in the American Board of Health Physics Certification Program. Additional perspectives were added by Mary Van Baalen, CHP and Patrick Muldoon, CHP.
  • Presentations

May 8 - Outdoor Lasers Projects

  • Summary - In addition to the introduction there was two main presenters at the ViTS, Steve Rohring with the FAA and Fred Battle from JPL. Steve gave a presentation entitled FAA Evaluation of Proposed Outdoor Laser Operations. The presentation was intended to help all affected NASA Centers understand the process involved with notifying and gaining approval from the FAA. The SRM worksheet discussed is also attached below. Fred gave a presentation that described the JPL process they have used at the OCTL facility. All three of the presentations from the session are included in the attachment below.
  • Presentations
  • Form - SRM worksheet

2006

Oct 17 - Draft Health Physics Policy

  • Summary - Kurt Geber, CHP, discusses proposed Agency policy for ionizing and nonionizing radiation safety.
  • Presentations

Jul 18 - NASA and the NRC: Lessons Learned from Regulatory Violations

  • Summary - This ViTS presentation, by Theodore Simmons of the Goddard Space Flight Center, addresses violations of requirements and enforcement actions associated with reporting of missing licensed material.
  • Presentation

Jun 21 - Machine Source Radiation Safety

  • Summary - Ruth McBurney, CHP, past-president of the Health Physics Society and manager of the Radiation Safety Licensing Branch of the Texas Department of State Health Services, presented on the health physics of machine source ionizing radiation including regulatory concerns and upcoming trends and emerging technologies such as neutron interrogation.
  • Presentations

Mar 15 - Online Radiation Safety Training Programs

  • Summary - This ViTS, consisting of four presentations dealing with online radiation safety training programs. The first presentation is by Michael A. Thompson, a medical physicist and professor in the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). UAB’s online radiation safety training was featured in the February 2006 issue of Health Physics the Radiation Safety Journal. Kim Merritt, CLSO, presented next on radiation safety training at LaRC, followed by Tad Blanchard discussing the GSFC radiation safety training programs, and Bill Vermeere discussing radiation training at ARC.
  • Presentations

2005

Dec 2 - OSHA RF Safety Programs

  • Summary - OSHA presentation on RF Safety Programs by Robert Curtis, MS, CIH. Based on the newly published IEEE C95.7 standard, Recommended Safety Programs for Radio Frequency Safety Programs, 3 kHz to 300 GHz.
  • Presentations

Mar 10- DOE Report & Radiation Instrumentation Calibration

  • Summary - The first part of this two part ViTS highlighted the findings of a special Department of Energy Laser Safety Report (Kurt Beber, CHP). The second part presents a comprehensive overview of important instrument calibration requirements based on industry and consensus standards (Robert Halliburton, CHP).
  • Presentations
    1. Laser Safety Report
    2. Radiation Instrumentation

2004

Jun 4 - Radiological Terrorist Threats

  • Summary - In the first part of this two part ViTS, Dr. Ricks discussed the risk of terrorist threat from radiological and nuclear devices and considerations for the health physics and medical communities. In part 2, Randy Scott addressed KSC’s approach to combat the threat, including training, equipment, surveillance and procedures.
  • Presentations

Mar 15 - Space Radiation Protection Overview

  • Summary - Space Radiation Protection Overview presented by Fancis A. Cucinotta, Ph.D., Radiation Health Officer and Chief Scientist at JSC. This ViTS discussed the space radiation environment, biological effects of space radiation, risk projections, and their relatively large uncertainties.
  • Presentations

2003

Dec 3 - Plum Brook Reactor Facility Decommissioning Project Status Update

  • Summary - Plum Brook Reactor Facility Decommissioning Project, a status update by the former Project RSO, Kurt Geber, CHP. This ViTS gave a history of NASA’s experiences with the nuclear reactor and hot cell facilities at Plum Brook Station, located about an hour west of GRC.
  • Presentations