Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies

Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies is a critical component of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The division plays a vital role in protecting the health and safety of workers in various industries, including mining, construction, and manufacturing, by conducting surveillance and hazard evaluations to identify potential health risks. This work is often done in collaboration with other organizations, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), to develop effective strategies for preventing work-related injuries and illnesses, as seen in the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

● Overview of

the Division The Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies is responsible for monitoring and investigating workplace hazards, including chemical hazards, physical hazards, and biological hazards, to prevent occupational diseases and injuries, as outlined in the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) developed by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in collaboration with the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH). The division's work involves conducting field studies and research to identify and characterize workplace hazards, as well as developing and implementing surveillance systems to track work-related injuries and illnesses, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and the National Surveillance System for Occupational Diseases (NSSOD). This work is informed by the research of prominent scientists, including Alice Hamilton, Irving Selikoff, and David Michaels, and is guided by the principles of epidemiology and occupational health.

● Organization and Structure

The Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies is organized into several branches, each with its own area of focus, including the Surveillance Branch, the Hazard Evaluations Branch, and the Field Studies Branch, which work together to address the complex issues of work-related diseases and injuries, as seen in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Plan of Action on Workers' Health and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention on Occupational Safety and Health. The division is led by a director who reports to the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and works closely with other CDC centers, including the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), as well as with external partners, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

● Surveillance and Hazard Evaluations

The division's surveillance and hazard evaluations activities involve monitoring and investigating workplace hazards, including chemical exposures, noise exposure, and ergonomic hazards, to identify potential health risks, as outlined in the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard and the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. The division uses a variety of methods, including air sampling, biological sampling, and questionnaires, to collect data on workplace hazards and exposures, and works with other organizations, such as the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and the International Society for Exposure Science (ISES), to develop and implement effective hazard control strategies, as seen in the Hierarchy of Controls.

● Field Studies and Research

The division conducts field studies and research to investigate workplace hazards and develop effective strategies for preventing work-related injuries and illnesses, as seen in the NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program and the BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). The division's research focuses on a range of topics, including occupational cancer, respiratory disease, and musculoskeletal disorders, and involves collaboration with other organizations, such as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), to develop and implement effective interventions and prevention strategies, as outlined in the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA).

● Methodologies and Tools

The division uses a variety of methodologies and tools to conduct its work, including statistical analysis, epidemiology, and exposure assessment, as seen in the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM) and the OSHA Technical Manual. The division also develops and uses models and simulations to predict workplace hazards and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and works with other organizations, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to develop and implement new technologies and methods for preventing work-related injuries and illnesses, as outlined in the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act.

● Significant Contributions and Findings

The Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies has made significant contributions to the field of occupational health and safety, including the development of surveillance systems to track work-related injuries and illnesses, and the identification of effective strategies for preventing occupational diseases and injuries, as seen in the NIOSH Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance System and the BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII). The division's work has also informed the development of policies and regulations to protect workers' health and safety, including the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard and the Mine Safety and Health Act, and has been recognized by prominent organizations, such as the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine, for its contributions to the field of occupational health and safety.

Category:Occupational safety and health