Impact of NIOSH education and research centers of workplace practice

Multiple federal efforts to improve occupational safety and health (OSH) in the United States were implemented over the course of the twentieth century. The development of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to implement safety and health standards was an initial step to improve workplace safety and health nationwide. An additional effort was the creation of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). That agency, in turn, created Education and Research Centers (ERCs) to provide continuing education and graduate level training in occupational medicine, occupational health nursing, occupational safety, and industrial hygiene. Many training programs were created by both the ERCs and other agencies, causing the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2000 to call for an evaluation of all worker training programs to determine whether they are effective. Such an evaluation is important because despite the figures showing that workplace deaths and injuries have decreased, we really do not know whether it is the training programs or other factors that have the desired effect of improving worker safety. This thesis addressed that issue. Using a multimodal effort for obtaining data, the research evaluated how the ERCs have impacted the workforce. The research utilized qualitative methods, including key informant interviews, to indicate the impact the ERCs have had on workplace safety and health. Additionally, the research conducted a quantitative survey of former ERC students to identify how effective the ERC training programs were in providing information so they can make appropriate health and safety decisions in their workplace practices. This research shows that the ERCs provided training that has made a positive impact on worker health and safety. Key informants identified safety and health training as effective in producing changes in the workplace. Furthermore, the surveys identified trainees as having increased their knowledge and learned new skills. Trainees identified changes needed in their workplace, and the training has provided them with some of the knowledge and skills to make those changes.Ph. D.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Mitchel A. Rose