NIOSH is the U.S. federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations to

prevent worker injury and illness. NIOSH was established under the Occupational Safety

and Health Act of 1970. It is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information

DIVISION OF SAFETY RESEARCH

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

The Division of Safety Research (DSR) is part of the 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and 

Health (NIOSH). DSR conducts research to reduce a 

wide variety of occupational safety hazards.

DSR is the focal point for traumatic injury research at 

NIOSH. Research across the Division’s three branches 

seeks to identify, reduce, and prevent work-related 

injuries and deaths across all industries. 

Robotics and automated technologies are emerging research 

issues for DSR given their increasing capabilities in the workplace.

Using a public health approach, our research and 

programming involves:

• Injury data collection and analysis

• Analytic epidemiology

• Field investigations

• Lab research

• Protective technology

• Safety engineering

• Health communication

Technology & Product Highlights

Ladder Safety App

This free, award-winning mobile app 

provides tools and information to 

correctly setup and use extension and 

step ladders.

Workplace Violence Prevention for Nurses

Training

This award-winning online course 

educates healthcare professionals on the 

scope and nature of violence and how to 

prevent it in the workplace.

Improving EMS Worker Safety Through 

Ambulance Design and Testing Video Series

This award-winning video series 

highlights 10 new crash test 

methods published by the Society 

of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to 

improve the crashworthiness of an 

ambulance and keep workers and 

patients safe. This work was done in 

partnership with the Department 

of Homeland Security and other public and private 

sector partners.

Behind the Wheel at Work

This quarterly eNewsletter provides 

research updates, links to motor 

vehicle safety resources, practical tips 

on workplace driving, and the latest 

news from the NIOSH Center for 

Motor Vehicle Safety. 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/contact/im-dsr.html

(304) 285-5894
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Telephone: 1–800–CDC–INFO (1–800–232–4636) TTY: 1–888–232–6348 

CDC INFO: www.cdc.gov/info or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/NIOSH

For a monthly update on news at NIOSH, subscribe to NIOSH eNews by visiting www.cdc.gov/niosh/eNews.

This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted.

https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2018138revised122021

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2018-138 (revised 12/2021)

December 2021 

OUR SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AREAS

Motor Vehicle Incidents 

and Crashes

Falls Workplace Violence

Machinery and Industrial 

Vehicles

High-Risk Jobs and 

Vulnerable Workers

Centers and Programs

Center for Motor Vehicle Safety

This center conducts research and develops strategies to 

prevent work-related motor vehicle crashes and injuries. 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/motorvehicle/ncmvs 

 @NIOSH_MVSafety 

Center for Occupational Robotics Research 

This center guides the development and use of occupational 

robots that enhance worker safety and health. 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/robotics 

Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program

This program and its state partners study select, fatal workplace 

injuries and make recommendations to prevent similar deaths 

and injuries. www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/ @NIOSHFACE

Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention 

Program 

This program conducts investigations of fire fighter line-of-duty 

deaths and makes recommendations to prevent similar deaths 

and injuries. www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire 

Human Factors and Safety Engineering Research 

Program 

This program focuses on the relationship between people and 

their work environments, tools, and equipment, and supports 

the development of protective technology and controls.

OUR STAFF

DSR has 70 full time positions and has offices and labs in Morgantown, West Virginia. Staff have experience in the following areas:

Surveillance: Behaviorial Scientist | Epidemiologists | Health Scientists | Statisticians

Field Investigations: Health Scientist | Medical Officer | Safety & Occupational Health Specialists

Human Factors and Protective Technology: Health Scientists | Biomedical Engineers | Civil Engineers | Computer 

Engineers | Industrial Engineers | Mechanical Engineers | Safety Engineers

Health Communications: Health Communication Specialists | Web Specialists