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What Is NIOSH?

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) develops and establishes occupational health and safety standards, conducts research to develop new criteria for improving health and safety standards and makes recommendations on those standards.

  1. Origins

    • The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 created NIOSH. It is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services.

    Function

    • Some activities NIOSH agents may undertake include the investigation of hazardous working conditions, evaluation of workplace hazards, providing scientifically valid recommendations for worker protection after research, and education and training for individuals working or preparing to work in the field of occupational safety or health.

    Considerations

    • The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is responsible for investigation and fines after workplace injuries, but NIOSH is responsible for researching and developing policies to prevent workplace injuries before they happen.

    Geography

    • NIOSH is headquartered in Washington, D.C., but there are NIOSH laboratories and offices in Anchorage, Alaska; Cincinnati, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; Morgantown, West Virginia; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Spokane, Washington.

    Significance

    • NIOSH's Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation Program, which began in 1998, has investigated more than 300 fire-related deaths and made more than 1,000 recommendations based on those investigations.

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