National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. NIOSH is part of the department’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The institute’s investigators study working conditions to determine the causes of employee illness and accidents. These investigations are often conducted at the request of employees or employers. NIOSH also recommends standards to control hazards on the job. It reports its findings to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which establishes and enforces the standards.
NIOSH submits recommended standards that are determined by studies of worker exposure to dangerous chemicals or radiation, excessive noise, and other conditions on the job. The agency also examines existing health and safety policies in factories and businesses and develops methods to evaluate job hazards. Its duties also include approving respirators and other personal safety equipment and providing job safety and health training for employers and employees. NIOSH was created by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
