At a glance
eNews is the monthly newsletter of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Each month includes an update from NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard, featured NIOSH research, new worker safety and health resources, upcoming meetings, and more!
From the Director's Desk
John Howard, M.D., Director, NIOSH
Transforming Industry and Occupation Data into Actionable Insights
Every data point tells a story. To effectively address work-related illnesses and injuries, we must understand the stories of our workers.
Occupational health surveillance helps us read these stories across groups of workers and identify patterns of risk that might otherwise remain invisible. However, inconsistent job information can make those patterns harder to see.
Data from surveys, death certificates, and medical records often contain free-text descriptions of jobs and industries. Free-text means people enter descriptions in their own words rather than choose from a predefined drop-down list. These responses can provide useful details, but people may describe the same job in many different ways, making the information harder to compare.
Before researchers can analyze these responses, they convert them into standardized codes. Doing this manually is a time-consuming and costly process.
NIOCCS: A foundational tool for analysis
NIOSH developed the NIOSH Industry and Occupation Computerized Coding System (NIOCCS) to make this process faster and more consistent. The free web application instantly converts free-text entries into standardized codes. It can code a single industry or occupation entry, and process large files of free-text descriptions. NIOCCS can also integrate directly into data collection platforms for real-time coding.
NIOCCS uses a verified and consistent method to code industry and occupation information. Occupation information is rarely recorded the same way every time. For example, one person filling out a survey might enter "nurse," while others might use "registered nurse" or "RN." NIOCCS recognizes all three entries as the same occupation – Registered Nurse – and assigns each one the same standardized code. Researchers can upload their raw industry and occupation data into NIOCCS and receive a coded file that is ready for analysis in seconds.
Public health professionals in local and state health departments, universities, healthcare networks, and the private sector have used NIOCCS to code more than 350 million records. The tool has been used to code industry and occupation for national public health surveys, vital records, cancer registries, and research. NIOCCS has more than 1,500 active user accounts across the United States and in more than 25 countries.
A healthier workforce through better data
NIOCCS provides the speed and accuracy needed to turn millions of individual records into a clearer picture of injury and illness patterns among different worker groups. By making occupation and industry data more consistent, NIOCCS helps researchers identify potential work-related health problems, improve prevention efforts, and better protect workers.
Through these efforts, we move closer to a future where every workers' illnesses and injuries are recognized as part of the larger story of health, safety, and well-being—not overlooked because their job information was hard to analyze.
Research Rounds
Chemical Components of Electric Vehicle and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle Fire Smoke and Their Mutagenic Effects
By Yong Ho Kim, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Adam Nored, EPA; Gavin P. Horn, Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI); Richard M. Kesler, FSRI; Adam Barowy, FSRI; Alex Schraiber, UL Solutions; Benjamin Gaudet, UL Solutions; Alexander C. Mayer, NIOSH; Micah Niemeier-Walsh, NIOSH; Kenneth W. Fent, NIOSH; Kasey Kovalcik, EPA; Joseph Patrick Pancras, EPA; and M. Ian Gilmour, EPA
Why is this study important?
Most electric vehicles (EVs) use lithium-ion batteries, which can cause large fires when improperly charged, overheated, or otherwise damaged. These fires can present unique challenges for firefighters because they may require different fire-suppression strategies than fires in standard-engine, or gasoline-powered, vehicles. Smoke from EV fires contains a complex mixture of chemicals that may pose health and environmental hazards. Until now, few studies have looked at these chemicals or evaluated their potential health effects.
How did you do the study?
In a large laboratory used to conduct full-scale burn tests, we burned six EVs and two standard-engine vehicles. We collected small particles from the smoke and analyzed their chemical content. We also exposed a type of bacteria to the particles to test how the chemicals might cause DNA damage.
What did you find?
Smoke from EV fires contained higher levels of some metals than smoke from standard-engine vehicles. By mass, these metals made up as much as 28% of EV fire smoke particles, compared with 4%–9% of particles from standard-engine vehicles. The most common metals in EV fire smoke were lithium, manganese, cobalt, and nickel. Electric vehicle fire smoke also contained a greater proportion of fluoride compared with fire smoke from standard-engine vehicles, although chemical concentrations varied by EV model. In contrast, zinc was the most common metal emitted from burning standard-engine vehicles. In laboratory tests, particles from EV fire smoke were also more likely to damage DNA than particles from standard-engine vehicle fires.
What are the next steps?
More research is needed to understand the health effects of EV fire smoke. Future studies should also examine which types of personal protective equipment are safest for workers responding to both EV and standard-engine vehicle fires.
Highlights
Hurricane Season Resources for Employers and Workers
Hurricanes, storms, and floods can create hazardous or stressful working conditions. The Hurricane and Flood Key Messages provide recommendations to help employers, workers, and volunteers prepare for and respond to these hazards. The document is also available in Spanish.
Best Practices for Using a SCBA
NIOSH recently published a series of fact sheets on best practices for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) use:
- Safe Use of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Firefighters
- Securing an SCBA after Adverse Conditions, Serious Injury, or Line-of-Duty Death
- Notifying NIOSH of SCBA Failure or Reduced Performance as a Standard Operating Procedure
Workplace Violence Prevention Course for Nurses Reaccredited
The NIOSH Online Workplace Violence Prevention Course for Nurses is reaccredited through July 2029. This free, interactive course is designed to help healthcare workers better understand the scope and nature of violence in the workplace. Upon successful completion of the course, healthcare professionals can earn continuing education units.
Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations Award Now Open
Apply by August 15 for the NIOSH Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations Award. The award recognizes mines and companies that use innovative technologies to improve worker health and safety beyond mandatory requirements.
New Spanish Webpage for NIOSH Numbered Publications
Now you can browse and search NIOSH numbered publications available in Spanish. This includes fact sheets, reports, videos, and other products. Filter the list by topic, sector, or audience. You can also browse NIOSH numbered publications in English.
Federal Register Notices
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations: Health Hazard Evaluations/Technical Assistance and Emerging Problems
The notice was posted on June 18. Comments must be received by August 17.
Meeting of the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
The notice was posted on July 10. Comments must be received by August 19. The meeting will be held on August 26 and 27.
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations: World Trade Center Health Program Stakeholder Experience Feedback Collection
The notice was posted on July 13. Comments must be received by September 11.
Meeting of the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
The notice was posted on July 16. Comments must be received by October 1. The meeting will be held on October 8.
Meeting of the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health, Subcommittee for Procedure Reviews, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
The notice was posted on July 21. Comments must be received by October 21. The meeting will be held on October 28.
New Communication Products
Annual Report
![[thumbnail] (hidden)](/niosh/media/images/2026/07/NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation-Program-2025-Annual-Report-thumb.png)
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program Report
Career Firefighter Sustains Serious Burns at Residential Structure Fire with Hoarding Conditions – Virginia (Report Slides)
Health Hazard Evaluation Reports
Evaluation of Potential Exposure to Cannabis Dust at a Cannabis Processing and Retail Facility
Control of Diesel Exhaust at a Municipal Fire Station
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Fact Sheets
News From Our Partners
Register for Safe & Sound Week
Register now to participate in Safe & Sound Week, August 10-16. This is a nationwide event that recognizes successful workplace safety and health programs. This year's event offers resources and activities for businesses focused on safety and health recognition.
Slip-and-Fall Study Wins Best Paper Award
A NIOSH-funded study at the University of Pittsburgh received the 2025 Journal of Tribology Best Paper Award. Researchers looked at how shoes interact with different floor surfaces in oily or slippery workplace environments. The findings could help safety professionals, employers, and manufacturers design or select safer footwear and flooring to prevent workplace falls and related injuries.
Study Compares Shade Materials for Agricultural Workers
Agricultural workers have a high risk of heat illness, and shade is one of the most effective ways to reduce that risk. A new NIOSH-funded study compared several common shade materials and found that they provided similar protection. The findings suggest that ease of use, portability, and placement near the work area may be the most important factors when choosing shade.
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