Notable Milestones in NIOSH History
Overview
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The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness.
Directors
- 2009 – Present: John Howard, M.D.
- 2002 – 2008: John Howard, M.D.
- 1994 – 2000: Linda Rosenstock, M.D.
- 1981 – 1993: J. Donald Millar, M.D.
- 1978 – 1981: Anthony Robbins, M.D.
- 1975 – 1978: John Finklea, M.D.
- 1971 – 1975: Marcus Key, M.D.
1970
OSH Act created NIOSH
NIOSH Program Portfolio, leadership centers and offices, worker services and support programs
1971
- First Criteria Document on Asbestos
- First Toxic Substances List
1973
- NIOSH transferred to CDC from Health Service & Mental Health Administration
- Creation of NIOSHTIC
1974
NIOSH/OSHA Standards Completion Program was the basis for 387 new standards, immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) values and the PocketGuide
1975
First Current Intelligence Bulletins published (chloroprene, trichloroethylene, ethylene dibromide, asbestos (during brake and clutch work), hexamethylphoshoric triamide, polychlorinated biphenyls)
1977
- First nine Education and Research Centers Portfolio (ERC)s were awarded (Harvard, U. Cincinnati, Johns Hopkins, U. Texas Houston, U. Minnesota, U. North Carolina, U. Washington Seattle, U. Illinois Chicago, & U. Arizona)
- Courts affirm authority to enter workplaces, examine medical records, and disseminate research findings NIOSH publishes Occupational Diseases: A Guide to Their Recognition
1978
NIOSH/OSHA Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards first published
1984
First meeting of the NIOSH Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC)
1985
On the 15th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) issued a report concluding that the Act had led to the reduction of exposures to vinyl chloride, cotton dust, and lead
1986
- NIOSH releases the Proposed National Strategies for the Prevention of Leading Work-Related Diseases and Injuries (Top Ten Work-related Diseases and Injuries)
- NIOSH, OSHA, and EPA establish the ONE Committee to coordinate the agencies’ research efforts
- Collaboration with International Labour Organization (ILO) International Programme on Chemical Safety to establish peer reviewed hazard communication cards (International Chemical Safety Cards)
1987
- Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risk Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risk (SENSOR) program established at NIOSH
- NIOSH publishes landmark studies showing hazards of vermiculite from Libby, MT
1989
- The Alice Hamilton Award for Excellence in Science in Occupational Safety and Health was initiated
- Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) program and State Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program established
1996
- NIOSH website launched
- National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Established
- NIOSH issues findings & recommendations for preventing workplace homicides and assaults
1997
- Mine safety research authority is transferred to NIOSH following the elimination of the U.S. Bureau of Mines
- NIOSH issues Engineering Control Guidelines for Hot Mix Asphalt Pavers — this represents a new paradigm for conducting research by developing a partnership between labor, industry, and government
- Latex Alert issued Preventing allergic reactions to natural rubber latex in the workplace
1999
2001
- NIOSH provides technical assistance for responder safety and health in the World Trade Center rescue and recovery
- NIOSH en Espanol Web site launched
2003
NIOSH eNews debuts
2004
Research to Practice (r2p) Initiative established
2005
NIOSH provides technical and humanitarian assistance after Hurricane Katrina
2006
- Second Decade of NORA begins
- NIOSH partnered with SKC Inc., to commercialize two low-cost, NIOSH-designed field methods to help first responders, public health officials, and remediation workers quickly detect the presence of methamphetamine on various environmental surfaces
2007
NIOSH Science Blog debuts
2009
NIOSH publishes a literature review and critical analysis of Qualitative Risk Characterization and Management of Occupational Hazards: Control Banding (CB)
2010
NIOSH provides technical assistance for responder safety and health in the Deepwater Horizon containment and cleanup
2011
World Trade Center Health Program established
- Page last reviewed: March 28, 2018
- Page last updated: November 28, 2017
- Content source:
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Office of the Director