Pfizer, OEHF Announce Recipient Of Occupational/Environmental
Health Grants
 KANSAS
CITY, May 4, 2004 – As evidencedby the number
of applications received for the grants for Innovation
in Occupational and Environmental Health, there is
a diverse range of employee health and productivity initiatives
being developed across the nation. One recipient has been
selected for this highly coveted grant, which is offered by
Pfizer Inc and the Occupational and Environmental Health Foundation
(OEHF). The recipient of a $25,000 grant is Daniel G. Samo,
MD, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Foundation (ENH), Evanston,
Illinois, and the Village of Glencoe, Illinois.
The First National Consensus Guideline for a Comprehensive
Occupational Health and Safety Program for Law Enforcement
Officers.
Dr. Samo will lead a task force in developing the first national
guideline to assist physicians in providing occupational health
and safety for law enforcement officers. The initiative is
backed by the Village of Glencoe , as well as the City of
New London, Connecticut, and other organizations involved
with occupational health and safety issues of law enforcement
personnel. The guideline will be published and maintained
by the Public Safety Medicine Section of the American College
of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).
As a leading advocate of occupational health and safety,
Dr. Samo recognizes that there is a lack of guidelines to
assist physicians in dealing with medical issues among law
enforcement officers. While some local and statewide documents
regarding the occupational health of law enforcement officers
have been enacted, there is no consensus standard. However,
there is a national consensus standard for firefighters developed
by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). The NFPA standard
serves as a nationwide guideline for physicians and is often
used to guide care of fire fighters by municipalities and
other fire jurisdictions. Physicians in the Public Safety
Medicine Section routinely handle queries from physicians
regarding the occupational health of public safety workers.
To fill this critical need, Dr. Samo, along with the Public
Safety Medicine Section of ACOEM, is developing the first
national consensus guideline for a comprehensive occupational
health and safety program for law enforcement officers. This
grant will help fund the development and implementation of
this new standard.
The consensus document will be developed by a task group
of experts, including physicians from the Public Safety Medicine
Section and members of recognized national and international
associations representing law enforcement rank and file, law
enforcement executives, and municipal managers. The group
will also use content experts and the input from relevant
interest groups. The national consensus guideline will address
key issues related to the occupational health and safety of
law enforcement officers, including essential job functions,
physical requirements for applicants, and fitness-for-duty
criteria for incumbents. Other topics will include surveillance
issues, wellness and health maintenance topics, and requirements
of the Homeland Security Act.
The standard will be completed over the next 3 years. After
the guideline is published, the task group will provide speakers
to assist interested groups with its implementation.
The national consensus guideline will be improved and updated
every 3 years. The program also calls for developing a research
foundation to address emerging issues related to the occupational
health and safety of law enforcement officers.
* * *
“Pfizer is proud of our continued partnership with
OEHF and ACOEM in providing the resources for innovative programs
addressing the needs of employees and occupational health
professionals,” said Lisa Egbuonu-Davis, MD, vice president,
US Medical, Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals. “This grant
allows us the opportunity to demonstrate our on-going commitment
to advancing employee health.”
“We are proud to play a vital role in helping these
creative, forward-thinking experts advance the quality of
occupational health and employee safety and productivity,”
said Gregg Stave, MD, chair of the OEHF. “We are confident
the proposed program will benefit law enforcement organizations
and the physicians who serve them throughout the United States.”
The grant recipient and the details of their project will
be showcased on May 4 at the 89th annual American Occupational
Health Conference (AOHC) of the ACOEM, held in conjunction
with the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses,
Inc. AOHC is the world’s largest meeting of occupational
and environmental medicine professionals.
The OEHF was established in April 2002 by ACOEM in recognition
of the need to support research and educational initiatives
that may be beyond the scope of the ACOEM mission. The Foundation
advances the knowledge concerning occupational and environmental
health and medicine and promotes and protects the health of
workers through preventive services, clinical care, research,
and education programs.
Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets
leading prescription medicines, for humans and animals, and
many of the world’s best-known consumer brands.
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