Occupational Health

NEW POSITIONS* The National Association of Purchasing Management has named Ella H. Pierce, Baltimore City's purchasing agent since 1987, as District V director. The association is a professional organization of public and private-sector purchasing agents, materials managers and inventory specialists. Ms. Pierce, who continues as the city's chief procurement officer, will be responsible for the association's affiliates in six states -- Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina -- as well as Washington.

New positionsBethlehem Steel Corp. in Sparrows Point promoted Carl G. Osterman to superintendent of the tin mills.Optic Graphics, a Glen Burnie-based printing and manufacturing company, named Jack Blier customer service manager.Transportation Bureau of Baltimore Inc., a freight traffic management firm, named Samuel R. Polakoff executive vice president and Ed Jordan vice president of sales and marketing.The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel named Gary L. Smith director, Richard P. Suess assistant director for program development, and G. Richard Garritson head of the aeronautics department.

The Baltimore Postal Office is accepting applications for an indefinite period from Occupational Health Nurses.A register of eligibles will be created from which future vacancies will be filled.Applicants must be at least 18 and be certified as a registered nurse in a state or U.S. possession or territory.Interested applicants may call 301-347-4318 or write to Testing and Certification, 900 E. Fayette St., Room 300, Baltimore 21233, for an application form.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Magnetic fields from household wiring and appliances such as hair dryers, black and white televisions, and electric blankets may increase risk of childhood leukemia, according to a partial report revealed by a utility-supported research agency.The report seems certain to intensify public confusion and worry over magnetic fields that arise from everyday electric currents in power lines, transformers, motors in appliances, televisions and computer video display terminals.Among the conclusions:* Certain kinds of wiring systems used in and around homes, especially if high-voltage power lines and transformers are nearby, seem to increase childhood leukemia risk.

Vehicle management:William F. Adler is named president of PHH FleetAmerica, the U.S. vehicle management services subsidiary of PHH Corp.He will be responsible for the operations of Avis Leasing and NTS, the corporation's other domestic vehicle management subsidiaries.In his previous position of senior vice president of strategic resources for the corporation, he responsible for corporate human resources and corporate facilities management.He will retain his title of corporate senior vice president.

When you sit down to talk about occupational health with Dr. James D. Levy, a funny thing happens. There's a real transformation in him. His eyes light up. He moves to the edge of his seat.He talks a bit faster, pulling supportive material from here and there.This 50-year-old physician has added an MBA and parlayed that combination to claim the top spot at Baltimore's largest occupational health services firm, CMC Inc. And he's excited about the business.Just what is occupational health? Dr. Levy explains that it's "working with employers on how they can best take care of their employees."