# Presentation: 090508

## A New Decade of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) and Research in the Health Care and Social Services Sector  

- VA-Wide Occupational Safety and Health Conference
- January 18, 2006
- David N. Weissman, MD
- Teri Palermo, RN
-  National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health
- Morgantown, WV

## Outline of Presentation

- Introduction
- What is NIOSH?
- National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA)
- Conclusion

## What is NIOSH?

- The federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness.
- Part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services.
- Established together with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
- NIOSH and OSHA are distinct, separate agencies.  OSHA is in the U.S. Department of Labor.  It creates and enforces workplace safety and health regulations in general industry.
- The Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is in the U.S. Department of Labor.  It creates and enforces workplace safety and health regulations in the mining industry.

## NIOSH Strategic Goals

- Conduct research to reduce work-related illnesses and injuries.
- Promote safe and healthy workplaces through interventions, recommendations and capacity building.
- Enhance global workplace safety and health through international collaborations.

## NIOSH Locations

- _Headquarters_ – Washington, DC
- _Laboratories and Offices_ - Cincinnati, OH, Morgantown, WV, Pittsburgh, PA, Spokane, WA and Atlanta, GA.

## National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA)

- An initiative to develop an occupational diseases research agenda for the nation.
- Seeks stakeholder input to identify research priorities for the nation.
- Builds collaborations to address priorities.
- Leverages funds to support research in priority areas

## 1996: The National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) addressed 21 priority areas*

- _ __2006_

- *Table is from NORA 1996

- _2006_: NORA will address priorities through 8 industrial sectors

- _1996_

## NAICS Codes for 20 Sectors in 8 NORA Sector Research Councils

| Sector | NAICS Codes |
| --- | --- |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing | 11 |
| Construction | 23 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 62 |
| Mining | 21 |
| Manufacturing | 31-33 |
| Services | 51-56, 61, 71-72, 81, 92 |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 48-49, 22 |
| Wholesale and retail trade | 42, 44-45 |

## Sector Research Councils

- Mission
- Develop and maintain a sector-specific research strategy for the nation to address the most important problems; and
- Maximize impact through partnerships by promoting widespread adoption of improved workplace practices based on research results
- Guiding Principles
- Stakeholder representation, stakeholder participation, transparency...

## Diverse Membership

- Employers
- Labor
- Academics
- Trade and Professional Associations
- Federal and state partners
- Practitioners
- Scientists and OSH professionals
- NIOSH

## Sector Research Strategies

- Strategic goals to eliminate the worst problems in the sector or sub-sectors
- Analysis of needs, gaps, and barriers
- Intermediate goals and outcome measures
- Plans to assure funding, conduct of the research, and adoption of successful strategies for prevention through partnerships

## NORA Research Councils

- <date/time>

**Cross-Sector**
**Research Council**

**Healthcare &**
**Social Assist.**

**Manufacturing**

**Construction**

**Ag., Forestry, **
**Fishing**

**Transport., **
**Wareh., Util.**

**Wholesale & **
**Retail Trade**

**Services**

**Mining**

- NIOSH Stewardship and Infrastructure

**Notes:**
Each Research Council will have a NIOSH and an external co-leader.
Members will include NIOSH researchers and external health and safety leaders.
The core of the Cross-Sector Research Council membership will be the co-leaders of each Sector Research Council.
NIOSH stewardship and infrastructure will provide the base on which the NORA Research Councils will operate.

## Plans for Input in Public Meetings

- Health Care Sector Town Hall Meeting: Houston, January 23, 2006
- Morning – discussion of regional issues
- Afternoon – discussion of issues specific to the Health Care and Social Services Sector:
- Top problems of the sector
- Key partnerships
- Research that will make a difference
- Cross-sector research critical to solving problems in sectors

## Input Through NIOSH e-Docket

## Information and Input

- Updates in E-news
- _[www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews](http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews)_
- Feedback form on NORA webpage
- _[www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora](http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora)_
- Email
- _[noracoordinator@cdc.gov](mailto:noracoordinator@cdc.gov)_