National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
| National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health | |
|---|---|
| NIOSH | |
| |
| NIOSH logo | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | December 29, 1970 |
| Jurisdiction | United States |
| Headquarters | 395 E Street, S.W., Ste. 9200, Patriots Plaza Building, Washington, DC |
| Agency executive | John Howard, Director |
| Parent agency | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Website | |
| CDC.gov/NIOSH | |
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the U.S. 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 (CDC) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIOSH provides national and world leadership to prevent work-related illness, injury, disability, and death by gathering information, conducting scientific research, and translating the knowledge gained into products and services.[1]
NIOSH is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with research laboratories and offices in Cincinnati, Ohio; Morgantown, West Virginia; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Denver, Colorado; Anchorage, Alaska; Spokane, Washington; and Atlanta, Georgia.[2] NIOSH is a professionally diverse organization with a staff ceiling of over 1,400[3] (as of 2005; operating with about 1,300 full-time employees[4]) people representing a wide range of disciplines including epidemiology, medicine, industrial hygiene, safety, psychology, engineering, chemistry, and statistics.
History
The Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon on December 29, 1970, created both NIOSH and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (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 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 U.S. law. Rather, NIOSH's authority under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 29 CFR § 671 is to "develop and establish recommended occupational safety and health standards," to "conduct such research and experimental programs ... for the development of criteria for new and improved occupational safety and health standards," and to manage other activities like mine safety and lead-based paint removal. NIOSH may also fund research by other agencies or private organizations through grants, contracts, and other arrangements.[5]
Funding
NIOSH was intended to function as an agency at the same level as, and independent from, the Centers for Disease Control. NIOSH was initially placed within the Centers for Disease Control in order to obtain administrative support from the Centers until NIOSH was ready to assume those responsibilities for itself; the Centers, however, never relinquished control and the original intent of the Act never came to pass.Template:Cn
See also
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
External links
References
- ↑ "About NIOSH". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 26 July 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/about.html. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ↑ "Directory of NIOSH Offices and Key Personnel". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 12 March 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/contact/officers.html. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ↑ "Proposed Budget Could Constrain NIOSH Operations". LIFELINES (Laborers' Health & Safety Fund of North America) 1 (11). April 2005. http://www.lhsfna.org/index.cfm/lifelines/april-2005/proposed-budget-could-constrain-niosh/. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ↑ Nash, James (22 April 2005). "CDC Proposes Staff Cuts For NIOSH". EHS Today. Penton. http://ehstoday.com/news/ehs_imp_37541. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ↑ "Title 29 § 671 - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health" (PDF). United States Code. U.S. Government Printing Office. 2012. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2012-title29/pdf/USCODE-2012-title29-chap15-sec671.pdf. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
