Ann Arbor Times

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is facing a significant reduction in staff due to federal budget cuts. This development has raised concerns among workplace safety experts about the potential impact on worker safety and health across various industries.

Richard Neitzel, director of the Center for Occupational Health and Safety Engineering at the University of Michigan, has expressed his worries, stating, "without this research, more Americans will suffer preventable injuries and illnesses, businesses will face higher costs, and families will lose loved ones to workplace accidents that could have been prevented."

NIOSH has long been involved in research, education, and various activities to improve workplace conditions, including reducing asphalt fumes and providing protection for firefighters, miners, and construction workers. It has addressed a range of issues affecting workers, such as safeguarding reproductive health, enhancing worker well-being, and preventing workplace violence.

Neitzel, who also serves as a professor of environmental health sciences and global public health at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health, highlights NIOSH's contributions, stating, "The impacts of the efforts of NIOSH are felt every day in workplaces across America."

The agency has played a crucial role in numerous safety advancements, including hearing loss prevention programs, heat stress management strategies, and infectious disease mitigation methods. These efforts have influenced changes in handling occupational hazards like noise exposure, heat stress, and lung diseases in coal miners.

NIOSH's focus has been on all types of U.S. workers, including those in industries such as mining, healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture. It has worked on addressing issues related to harmful chemicals, communicable diseases, and psychosocial stressors, among others.

The budget cuts pose several challenges. Neitzel emphasizes that "research done by researchers inside NIOSH has ended," and "research by university professors around the US who are funded by NIOSH has ended." Training programs funded by NIOSH have also ceased, potentially impacting the pipeline of occupational health and safety professionals.

NIOSH has historically focused its resources on industries with high rates of illnesses and injuries, such as mining, agriculture, and construction. Despite the focus on high-risk industries, its research benefits all U.S. workers.

The institute plays a supportive role for employers and workers as a research agency, without any regulatory or enforcement powers. Employers often view NIOSH as a valuable resource in addressing hazardous workplace conditions.

The University of Michigan’s Center for Occupational Health and Safety Engineering has participated in various projects funded by NIOSH. These include studies to improve farmworker conditions, evaluate risk factors for injuries, and assess opportunities to reduce risks through technology like exoskeletons.

Neitzel’s team has contributed to understanding and reducing risks associated with noise exposure and stressors in the workplace. Their research highlights the practical benefits of NIOSH-funded projects in improving working conditions for American workers.