OSHA and NIOSH Turn 50

The landmark “Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970” (OSHAct) established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (Rothstein, 2020). OSHA is in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). American workers benefited substantially because the legislation required employers to provide “a safe and healthful workplace” (Rothstein, 2020). This new federal policy provided a government-mandated regulatory process for specific workplace hazards such as asbestos and lead, along with an infrastructure for conducting workplace safety inspections and collaborating with employers who voluntarily implemented comprehensive safety programs. The OSHAct also established NIOSH to conduct research needed to inform and justify OSHA’s regulations (Howard, 2020; Michaels & Barab, 2020).

The OSHAct is a far-reaching piece of legislation that has not been without controversy (Michaels & Barab, 2020). OSHA is often criticized for the slow or “broken” standard setting process because it can take a decade or more to promulgate a hazard standard (Michaels & Barab, 2020). Currently, critics are complaining about OSHA’s reluctance to use the emergency temporary standard process to require COVID-19 safety controls (Rosenberg, 2021). Yet, 50 years since the OSHAct passed, the United States has had steady reduction in occupational injuries and illnesses (Rothstein, 2020).

OSHA is commemorating its 50th birthday with a year-long effort to highlight its historical accomplishments and current priorities. Each decade has seen improvements in OSHA’s ability to address unsafe workplaces and protect the health and safety of American workers: https://www.osha.gov/osha50. Occupational and Environmental Health Nurses (OHNs) can learn about OSHA’s new incoming leadership and its administration (https://www.osha.gov/aboutosha) plus OSHA’s latest activities and highlights in the bi-monthly QuickTakes newsletter (https://www.osha.gov/quicktakes/). Recent issues have focused on clarifying the COVID-19 pandemic enforcement and outreach, winter weather safety, enforcement activity, and consultation resources. OSHA also opened the new Office of Pandemic and Emergency Response and recently provided more specific guidance on COVID-19: https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/safework. Finally, consider bookmarking this page for current and future OSHA Publications https://www.osha.gov/publications.

NIOSH, on the other hand, has funded and conducted research on emerging and deadly workplace hazards in all industry sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, health care, forestry, construction, and commercial fishing. In the mid 1990’s NIOSH developed a model collaborative process for establishing the nation’s occupational health and safety research priorities known as the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). OHN’s have participated on NORA councils by providing important leadership, research, and practice input: https://www.cdc.gov/nora/about.html. NIOSH is also marking its 50 years in a new science blog: https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2021/01/11/50th-kickoff/, which this year will track the highlights of NIOSH’s history, resources, and accomplishments. The first blog reflects on the 1984 origins of the Total Worker Health (TWH) concept, which many OHNs have embraced: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews/enewsv18n9.html#research. AAOHN became a TWH affiliate in 2016 and endorses, promotes, and trains OHNs on the TWH framework: http://aaohn.org/page/aaohn-partnerships. Sign up to receive the NIOSH newsletter for affiliates TWH ® in Action. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/twh/newsletter/default.html

Many OHNs have completed a NIOSH-approved spirometry course and other training to manage OSHA-mandated occupational health surveillance programs. The NIOSH-funded Education and Research Centers (ERC) provide nursing continuing education, as well as support graduate education programs in occupational safety and health for baccalaureate prepared registered nurses: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep/ercportfolio.html. The NIOSH website is a comprehensive resource for occupational health professionals: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ and you can keep current on the evolving practice evidence found in the monthly NIOSH News: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews/default.html. The future for worker health and safety should continue to improve because of these efforts by OSHA and NIOSH during the past 50 years and recommendations for changes to improve OSHA’s reach (Michaels & Barab, 2020).