Synopsis for April 27, 2001

MMWR articles are embargoed until 4 p.m. E.S.T. Thursdays.

1. Baler and Compacter-Related Deaths in the Workplace — United States, 1992–2000
2. Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments — United States, 1998
3. Fatal Occupational Injuries — United States, 1980–1997
4. Progress Toward Global Poliomyelitis Eradication, 2000

MMWR Recommendations & Reports
Vol.50/RR–5/April 27, 2001

Contact: Miriam Alter, Ph.D.
CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases
(404) 639–5910

Recommendations for Preventing Transmission of Infections Among Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

These recommendations replace previous recommendations for the prevention of bloodborne virus infections in hemodialysis centers and provide additional recommendations for the prevention of bacterial infections in this setting. The recommendations in this report provide guidelines for a comprehensive infection control program that includes a) infection control practices specifically designed for the hemodialysis setting; b) surveillance; and c) training and education.

Synopsis for April 27, 2001

Baler and Compacter-Related Deaths in the Workplace — United States, 1992–2000

Workers are being killed using these machines primarily because they are unaware of the hazards.

Compacting and baling equipment used for refuse collection, disposal, and recycling are present in the work places of a broad range of industries. Between 1992 and 1998, 34 deaths were reported of workers either operating or working near baling or compacting equipment. These deaths usually occur while workers are loading material, conducting machine servicing or maintenance, or when clearing jammed material from operating machines. The circumstances involved in the these cases indicate that workers are unaware of the hazards. Employers should be aware of the hazards of operations, inform workers of these hazards and train workers in safe work practices. Employees have the responsibility to know the hazards in their work environment, learn the proper procedures, engage in safe work practices, and report any new hazards to management.

Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments — United States, 1998

Each year, U.S. workers experience about 3.6 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses that require medical treatment in an emergency department.

Men were injured nearly twice as often as women per hour worked, and younger workers had higher injury/illness rates than older workers. About one-fourth of all injuries involved lacerations or punctures, particularly to hands and fingers. One-fourth involved sprains and strains. Although burns were only a small proportion of the emergency department (ED)-treated occupational injuries, adolescents had a noticeably higher rate of burns than older workers. These workplace injuries and illnesses treated in an ED represent only about one-third of all U.S. injuries/illnesses that require medical treatment each year. Effective safety interventions need to be developed and implemented to meet the Healthy People 2010 objective of a 30% reduction in the rate of occupational injuries.

Fatal Occupational Injuries — United States, 1980–1997

Despite the decline of both the number and rate of traumatic occupational fatalities, an average of 16 fatalities still occur each day.

Significant improvements in occupational health and safety have been made, but occupational injuries and fatalities continue to be a major public health concern. Overall from 1980 to 1997, 103,945 workers in the U.S. died from work-related injuries. During that time, such fatalities generally decreased in number by 28 percent and in rate by 45 percent, perhaps due to many varied factors. Nevertheless, the continuing toll of job-related fatalities (on average, 16 deaths each day) signals a need for further progress, including better monitoring of workplace deaths and injuries.

Progress Toward Global Poliomyelitis Eradication, 2000

The global polio eradication initiative made great strides in 2000.

These efforts must be sustained and improved for the global eradication of polio to occur by the end of the year 2002 or shortly thereafter. By the end of 2000, only 20 countries were known or suspected to support wild poliovirus circulation. The type 2 poliovirus was last isolated in Northern India in October 1999, and may have been eliminated globally. Other major milestones in 2000 included: 1) decrease (>60%) in reported polio cases from 7,141 in 1999 to 2,849 in 2000; 2) the dramatic expansion in the rounds (>50%) of national immunization days (NIDs); 3) the immunization of millions of children in countries affected by conflict; 4) a dramatic increase in the quality of surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP); and 5) the expansion of the global eradication partnership.

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