NIOSH Honored in Digital Health Awards Competition

Contact: Nura Sadeghpour (202) 245-0673

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was selected as a winner in the 17th annual Digital Health Awards(SM) program this year. This competition recognizes the world’s best digital health resources for consumers and health professionals, and recognized NIOSH’s Ladder Safety app for a Merit Award in the mobile application category.

The Digital Health Awards (SM) program holds a competition twice each year, during the spring and fall months. For Spring 2015, they gave the Merit Award to NIOSH and the production and design team of the Ladder safety app, housed within NIOSH’s Division of Safety and Research (DSR): Peter Simeonov, Ph.D., Hongwei Hsiao, Ph.D., and John Powers.

“We were delighted to participate in the 2015 Digital Health Awards competition, and were honored to be selected as a winner,” said Dawn Castillo, MPH, director of DSR. “Our winning entry was chosen from nearly 600 entries judged by a panel of distinguished experts in digital health media.”

NIOSH’s Ladder Safety app uses visual and audio signals to make it easier for workers using extension ladders to check the angle the ladder is positioned at, as well as access useful tips for using extension ladders safely. The app is available for free download for both iPhone and Android devices.

NIOSH is the federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. NIOSH’s Division of Safety Research is the focal point for traumatic injury research. Using a public health approach the Division’s research involves: injury data collection and analysis, field investigations, analytic epidemiology, protective technology, and safety engineering. For more information about NIOSH visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ or the Division of Safety Research visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/contact/im-dsr.html.

The Digital Health Awards(SM) program is organized by the Health Information Resource Center(SM) (HIRC), a national clearinghouse for professionals who work in consumer health fields. Other well-known HIRC programs include the annual National Health Information Awards(SM), (healthawards.com) and two national “Fitness Day” events.