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National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
 
 
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The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (or NIOSH) is the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is an agency of the United States United States Department of Health and Human Services based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States adjacent to the campus of Emory University and northeast of downtown Atlanta....
 (CDC) within the US Department of Health and Human Services.

NIOSH is headquartered in Washington, DC, with research laboratories and offices in Cincinnati, OH, Morgantown, WV, Pittsburgh, PA, Spokane, WA and Atlanta, GA.






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The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (or NIOSH) is the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is an agency of the United States United States Department of Health and Human Services based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States adjacent to the campus of Emory University and northeast of downtown Atlanta....
 (CDC) within the US Department of Health and Human Services.

NIOSH is headquartered in Washington, DC, with research laboratories and offices in Cincinnati, OH, Morgantown, WV, Pittsburgh, PA, Spokane, WA and Atlanta, GA. NIOSH is a professionally diverse organization with a staff of over 1,400 people representing a wide range of disciplines including epidemiology, medicine, industrial hygiene, safety, psychology, engineering, chemistry, and statistics.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act
Occupational Safety and Health Act

The Occupational Safety and Health Act is the primary United States federal law which governs occupational health and safety in the private sector and federal government in the United States....
, signed by President
President

President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, company, trade unions, university, and country. Etymology, a "president" is one who Wiktionary:Preside, who sits in leadership ....
 Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970, created both NIOSH and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M....
 (OSHA). NIOSH was established to help ensure safe and healthful working conditions by providing research, information, education, and training in the field of occupational safety and health. NIOSH provides national and world leadership to prevent work-related illness, injury, disability, and death
Occupational fatality

An occupational fatality is a death that occurs while a person is at work or performing work related tasks. Occupational fatalities are also commonly called ?occupational deaths? or ?work-related deaths/fatalities? and can occur in any industry or employment....
 by gathering information, conducting scientific research, and translating the knowledge gained into products and services.

NIOSH Authority


Unlike its counterpart, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, NIOSH is not a regulatory agency. It does not issue safety and health standards that are enforceable under US law. Rather, NIOSH's authority under the Occupational Safety and Health Act
Occupational Safety and Health Act

The Occupational Safety and Health Act is the primary United States federal law which governs occupational health and safety in the private sector and federal government in the United States....
 [29 CFR § 671] is to "develop recommendations for health and safety standards", to "develop information on safe levels of exposure to toxic materials and harmful physical agents and substances," and to "conduct research on new safety and health problems." NIOSH may also "conduct on-site investigations (Health Hazard Evaluations) to determine the toxicity of materials used in workplaces" and "fund research by other agencies or private organizations through grants, contracts, and other arrangements."

Also, pursuant to its authority granted to it by the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 amended the Coal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1969. It can be found in the United States Code under Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining, Chapter 22, Mine Safety and Health....
, NIOSH may "develop recommendations for mine health standards for the Mine Safety and Health Administration
Mine Safety and Health Administration

The Mine Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor which administers the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to enforce compliance with mandatory safety and health standards as a means to eliminate fatal accidents, to reduce the frequency and severity of nonfatal accide...
", "administer a medical surveillance program for miners, including chest X-rays to detect pneumoconiosis
Pneumoconiosis

Pneumoconiosis is an occupational lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust....
 (black lung
Black Lung

Black Lung is an electronic music and industrial music project by Australian musician David Thrussell, also known for his industrial bands Snog and the more ambient Soma....
 disease) in coal miners", "conduct on-site investigations in mines similar to those authorized for general industry under the Occupational Safety and Health Act
Occupational Safety and Health Act

The Occupational Safety and Health Act is the primary United States federal law which governs occupational health and safety in the private sector and federal government in the United States....
; and "test and certify personal protective equipment
Personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garment designed to protect the wearer's body or clothing from injury by electrical hazards, heat, chemicals, and infection, for job-related occupational safety and health purposes, and in sports, martial arts, combat, etc....
 and hazard-measurement instruments."

NIOSH Publications


Alerts are put out by the agency to request assistance in preventing, solving, and controlling newly identified occupational hazards. They briefly present what is known about the risk for occupational injury, illness, and death.

Criteria Documents contain NIOSH's recommendations for the prevention of occupational diseases and injuries. These documents are submitted to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M....
 or the Mine Safety and Health Administration
Mine Safety and Health Administration

The Mine Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor which administers the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to enforce compliance with mandatory safety and health standards as a means to eliminate fatal accidents, to reduce the frequency and severity of nonfatal accide...
 for consideration in their formulation of legally-binding safety and health standards.

Current Intelligence Bulletins analyze new information about occupational health and safety hazards.

The National Agricultural Safety Database
National Agricultural Safety Database

The National Ag Safety Database was developed with funding from the United States National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health , the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the USDA Cooperative Extension Service ....
 is published by NIOSH and contains citations and summaries of scholarly journal articles and reports about agricultural health and safety.

In Popular Culture

  • In the Iris Alternate Reality Game to hype Halo 3
    Halo 3

    Halo 3 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie exclusively for the Xbox 360. The game is the third title in the Halo and concludes the story arc that began in Halo: Combat Evolved and continued in Halo 2....
    , it is called the NIOSH and is referenced alongside the CDC
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is an agency of the United States United States Department of Health and Human Services based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States adjacent to the campus of Emory University and northeast of downtown Atlanta....
     in helping in a "cleanup".


See also

  • NORA
    National Occupational Research Agenda

    The National Occupational Research Agenda is a partnership program developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health . The program was founded in 1996 to provide a framework for research collaborations among universities, large and small businesses, professional societies, government agencies, and worker organizations....
    , the National Occupational Research Agenda
  • Health Hazard Evaluation Program
    Health Hazard Evaluation Program

    The Health Hazard Evaluation program is administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ....
  • Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program
    Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program

    The Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program is administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , part of the Center for Disease Controland Prevention ....
  • National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System
    National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System

    The National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System was launched August 12, 2005 by the International Association of Fire Chiefs at a press conference at the Fire-Rescue International conference in Denver, Colorado after completion of a pilot program involving 38 fire departments across the country....
  • Back injury
    Back injury

    Back injuries often occur as a result in unfavorable pressures to the spine during day to day activity.Common thoughts on back injuries conclude that these are a result of incorrect lifting methods and posture....
  • Ergonomics
    Ergonomics

    Ergonomics is the scientific discipline concerned with designing according to human needs, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance....
  • Occupational safety and health
    Occupational safety and health

    Occupational safety and health is a Interdisciplinarity area concerned with protecting the safety, health and quality of life of people engaged in Employment....
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration
    Occupational Safety and Health Administration

    The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M....
     (OSHA)
  • American Society of Safety Engineers
    American Society of Safety Engineers

    The American Society of Safety Engineers , founded October 14, 1911, is the oldest and largest professional Occupational safety and health organization....
  • Safe-In-Sound Award Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Award


External links

  • - the monthly newsletter for NIOSH
  • - provides general industrial hygiene information
  • - collection of methods for sampling/analyzing contaminants in workplace air and blood/urine of exposed workers.
  • - online database with worker health and safety training materials and supporting documents (Note: In development!)