Vision
Safer, Healthier Workers
Mission
To develop new knowledge in the field of occupational safety and health and to transfer that knowledge into practice.
Values
Relevance—NIOSH programs are responsive to the occupational safety and health problems that burden today’s and tomorrow’s workers.
Quality—NIOSH utilizes only the best science, the highest level of data quality, and the most transparent and independent peer review.
Partnership—NIOSH accomplishes our mission in partnership with industry, workers, governments, academe, and scientific and professional communities, both nationally and internationally.
Transparency—NIOSH openly shares information about our work processes and our customers can obtain all NIOSH products and services through traditional, electronic and mobile sources.
Impact—NIOSH programs are results-oriented and are evaluated by how well they solve the occupational safety and health problems found in today’s workplaces and the workplaces of tomorrow.
Diversity—NIOSH employees and contractors reflect the full spectrum of diversity found in the American workforce and our research and interventions reflect the diversity of solutions needed for the American workplace.
Strategic Plan
NIOSH has a strategic plan with seven strategic goals that best represent the health and safety issues facing the U.S. workforce:
- Reduce occupational cancer, cardiovascular disease, adverse reproductive outcomes, and other chronic diseases.
- Reduce occupational hearing loss.
- Reduce occupational immune, infectious, and dermal disease.
- Reduce occupational musculoskeletal disorders.
- Reduce occupational respiratory disease.
- Improve workplace safety to reduce traumatic injuries.
- Promote safe and healthy work design and well-being.
These seven strategic goals are supported by intermediate and activity goals that guide occupational health and safety research priorities and service work. These goals address a broad range of occupational health and safety hazards, affecting an ever-changing workforce. Longer hours, compressed workweeks, an aging workforce, reduced job security, and part-time and temporary work have also changed the workforce.
About NIOSH
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 established NIOSH as a research agency focused on the study of worker safety and health, and empowering employers and workers to create safe and healthy workplaces. NIOSH is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It has the mandate to assure “every man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources.” NIOSH has more than 1,300 employees from a diverse set of fields including epidemiology, medicine, nursing, industrial hygiene, safety, psychology, chemistry, statistics, economics, and many branches of engineering.
- Milestones in NIOSH History
Research Programs
To view a list of NIOSH programs and learn more about them, go to NIOSH Programs. Also view Program Performance One-Pagers (PPOPs), short documents that describe the relevance and impact of NIOSH programs.
NIOSH Contacts
- NIOSH Divisions/Key Personnel
- NIOSH Centers
Advisory Groups
- NIOSH Advisory Committees
- Board of Scientific Counselors
The Library of NIOSH Content
NIOSH research, programs, and publications are responsive to the occupational health and safety problems that burden today’s and tomorrow’s workers. NIOSH utilizes only the best science, the highest quality of data, and the most transparent and independent peer review.
Workplace Safety and Health Topics
More NIOSH Resources
- Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
Informs workers and employers about workplace chemicals and their hazards.
- Manual of Analytical Methods
Methods for sampling and analysis of contaminants in workplace air, surfaces, blood and urine of exposed workers.
- Health Hazard
Evaluations (HHEs)
reoccurring workplace health hazards.
- Research Program One Page Summaries
Describes the relevance and impact of NIOSH programs in a short and easy to understand format.
- NIOSH en Español
- NIOSH Docket
Repository of NIOSH policy products, statements, and related materials.
- Documents for Public Review
Any information submitted to the NIOSH Docket is open for public review.
- Peer Review Agenda
Provides information on the independent review of NIOSH documents.
- Regulations
Information on regulations that outline requirements for specific safety and health related matters or industries.
- Regulatory Agenda
Proposed regulations and regulatory changes NIOSH has posted to the Unified Regulatory Agenda.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSHA ensures safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.
- Mine Safety and Health Administration
Works to prevent death, illness, and injury from mining and promotes safe workplaces for U.S. miners.
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