John Howard back at NIOSH
Occupational safety and health received the best news in nearly a year last week when Dr. John Howard was reappointed to be director of NIOSH for another six-year term. With Dr. Howard's background and support for his reappointment from nearly every segment of OH&S, it is refreshing to actually hear from someone (in this case the head of CDC) who follows the wishes of the stakeholders. CDC and HHS are to be congratulated for making what should have been an easy decision. NOW - Let's hope that OSHA and NIOSH wrok closely together in the next few years to see that the research and recommendations coming from NIOSH do not fall on deaf years.
NIOSH is the only federal agency conducting OH&S research. We can't do without it - and now we have a permanent director. Good news indeed!