“The Blue Sheet” Vol. 36, no. 17

The NIOSH program priorities applicable to this RFA are occupational lung disease, musculoskeletal injuries, occupational
cancers, severe occupational traumatic injuries, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of reproduction, neurotoxic disorders,
noise-induced loss of hearing, dermatologic conditions, psychological disorders, control techniques, respirator research.
These priority areas represent the leading diseases and injuries related to risks on the job, and NIOSH intends to support
projects that facilitate progress in preventing such adverse effects among construction workers. Investigators may also
apply in other areas related to construction safety and health, but the rationale for the significance of the research to
construction must be developed in the application.
Construction workers suffer far more serious injuries and fatalities than the general work force population. They die from
work-related trauma at a rate three times the national average for workers in all industrial sectors; they suffer disproportionately from nonfatal injuries, from lung diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, hearing loss, and dermatologic
conditions. For the construction industry, the national cost from lost production, medical care, workers' compensation, and
related claims, is very high. Workers' compensation insurance premiums alone cost $7 bil. annually.
The construction industry is faced with unique safety and health problems that require special attention. Construction
workers must perform work in an environment containing a variety of hazardous energy sources. They often work in the
presence of excessive noise levels and with tools and equipment that produce potentially hazardous vibrations; perform
repetitive, forceful motions and assume awkward working postures; frequently use a variety of toxic and volatile substances; and must cope with the complications of frequently changing work sites with multiple employers and work crews
engaged in separate concurrent activities, while being self-supervised much of the day.
Construction includes not only the building of new structures, but also the destruction or renovation of existing structures.
Thus, the potential hazards may be new or old, known or unknown, and simple or complex to control. A complete picture
of the extent and severity of the adverse effects is not available, but a partial list of concerns is as follows:
Lung diseases resulting from exposure to asbestos, man-made mineral fibers, silica, and other agents that lead to cancer
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; injuries caused by falls, electricity, person-machine interactions, and
environmental conditions; cumulative trauma, vibration-induced disorders, and osteoarthritis; skin disorders caused by
irritants, allergens, and photosensitization; systemic toxicity from lead, cadmium, solvents, and other "poisons"; noiseinduced hearing loss.
Applicants are required to give added attention (where feasible and appropriate) to the inclusion of minorities and/or
women study populations for research into the etiology of diseases, research in behavioral and social sciences, clinical
studies of treatment and treatment outcomes, research on the dynamics of health care and its impact on disease, and
appropriate interventions for disease prevention and health promotion. Exceptions would be studies of diseases which
exclusively affect males or where involvement of pregnant women may expose the fetus to undue risks. If minorities and/or
women are not included in a given study, a clear rationale for their exclusion must be provided.
Applicants will compete for available funds with all other approved applications assigned to NIOSH. The following will be
considered in making funding decisions: quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review; availability of funds;
and program balance among research areas of the announcement.
For further information contact: Roy Fleming, NIOSH, 1600 Clifton Rd., N.E., Bldg. 1, Rm. 2053, Mail Stop D-30, Atlanta, GA
30333, phone: [phone]. Letter of Intent Receipt Date: April 30, 1993. Application Receipt Date: June 8, 1993.
NIH
RFA-0D-93-002 Exploratory Grants for Alternative Medicine
The Office of Alternative Medicine (0AM) was initiated within the Office of the Director, NIH, in response to congressional
language that accompanied the Fiscal Year 1992 Labor, HHS, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill in
October 1991 [Senate Report 102-104, Page 147]. The mandate of the 0AM is to evaluate what was then termed "unconventional medical practices," and was renamed more recently "alternative medicine." The purpose of the OAM is to encourage
the investigation of alternative medical practices, with the ultimate goal of integrating validated alternative medical
practices with current conventional medical procedures.

The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to solicit applications for support of: (1) developing collaborations
between practitioners of alternative medicine and conventional researchers; and (2) small scale studies designed to obtain

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