NIOSH

NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, is a United States federal agency that conducts research and provides recommendations to prevent work-related injury and illness. It is part of the Department of Health and Human Services and falls under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, operating alongside OSHA to translate science into workplace protections.

Established in 1970 by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, NIOSH's mandate is to generate new knowledge in occupational safety and health, identify emerging hazards, and provide practical guidance to reduce risks in the workplace. The institute conducts surveillance, field investigations, and programmatic activities, and it collaborates with employers, workers, and researchers to apply findings to policy and practice.

Key activities include developing exposure assessments and risk management guidance, including recommended exposure limits (RELs). NIOSH also certifies respirators and related equipment; only NIOSH-certified devices are approved for use in U.S. workplaces. The agency funds and conducts research on chemical, biological, physical, and ergonomic hazards, and it produces widely used resources such as the Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards and risk communication materials.

NIOSH administers programs such as the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), the Health Hazard Evaluation program, and the World Trade Center Health Program. It funds research through grants and partnerships with industry, academia, and labor to translate findings into prevention strategies. Recommendations issued by NIOSH inform, but are not legally enforceable by themselves; OSHA enforces standards and may adopt NIOSH guidance as appropriate.