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

RESPIRATORY HEALTH DIVISION

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

The Respiratory Health Division 

(RHD) is part of the National 

Institute for Occupational Safety 

and Health (NIOSH). RHD conducts 

research and administers service 

programs to prevent work-related 

respiratory disease caused by 

hazardous occupational agents and to improve workers’ 

respiratory health.

RHD provides national and international leadership in 

work-related respiratory health issues by generating 

new knowledge and transferring that knowledge into 

practice to benefit workers. The division’s research 

includes

• Conducting multidisciplinary research to identify 

work-related respiratory hazards, assess workplace 

exposures, characterize health risks, and develop 

and disseminate effective interventions.

• Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating 

national data to track the burden of work-related 

respiratory disease.

• Responding to NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation 

(HHE) requests for evaluations of potential 

respiratory risks and providing recommendations 

for solutions.

• Providing health screening and surveillance 

services to U.S. coal miners under a program 

mandated by federal law called the Coal Workers’ 

Health Surveillance Program.

Technology & Product Highlights

The Work-Related Disease 

Surveillance System (eWoRLD)

This system presents data on 

work-related respiratory diseases 

including asbestosis, byssinosis, coal 

workers’ pneumoconiosis, silicosis, asthma, COPD, 

hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and mesothelioma. 

wwwn.cdc.gov/eworld

Spirometry Longitudinal Data Analysis 

(SPIROLA) Software

This easy-to-use visual and 

quantitative software tool assists 

health care providers in monitoring 

and interpreting computerized 

spirometry data.

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/spirometry/spirola-software.

html

Faces of Black Lung Video

This video provides background on 

black lung among coal miners and 

features miners who share stories on 

how their lives changed due to the 

disease. 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/video/2008-131

Learning Curves Video: Technical Procedures 

for Spirometry Testing in the Occupational 

Setting 

This video consists of seven 

downloadable modules that provide 

guidance on spirometry testing for 

health professionals. 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/spirometry/training.html

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

(304) 285-5749

The Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance 

Program mobile unit.
To receive NIOSH documents or more information about occupational safety and health topics, please contact NIOSH:

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/NIOSHPUB2018142

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2018-142

July 2018

OUR SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AREAS

Airways Diseases Interstitial Lung Diseases Respiratory Infectious 

Diseases

Emerging Repiratory 

Diseases

Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Program

This program helps workers, worker representatives including 

unions, and employers identify potential health hazards in their 

workplace. RHD contributes to the program by conducting 

evaluations for respiratory-related risks and recommends ways 

to prevent work-related respiratory illness. 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe

Occupational Respiratory Disease Surveillance 

Program

This program collects, analyzes, and disseminates information 

related to the occurrence of work-related respiratory disease. 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/surveillance/ords

Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program

Established by the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 

1969, this program provides early detection of coal workers’ 

pneumoconiosis to prevent progression to severe lung disease 

and to collect information about the numbers of coal workers 

with respiratory disease. www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/cwhsp

B-Reader Program

This program provides training opportunities for physicians 

to learn about classifying chest radiographs for the presence 

and severity of changes associated with dust-induced lung 

disease (pneumoconiosis) using a standardized international 

classification system. The program administers a certification 

examination that documents the learner’s ability to use the 

system. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/chestradiography/

breader.html

Spirometry Training Program

This program is responsible for approving courses in spirometry 

(a lung function test) for individuals who conduct spirometry 

testing in occupational health settings. 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/spirometry/training

OUR STAFF

RHD has 90 full time positions and has offices and labs in Morgantown, WV. Staff have experience in the following areas:

Epidemiology and Surveillance: Epidemiologists I Statisticians I Health Scientists

Engineering: Architectural Engineers I Chemical Engineers

Exposure Science: Industrial Hygienists I Physical Scientists I Biological Science Technicians

Occupational Health: Physicians I Nurses I Health Assessment Specialists I Medical Instrument Technicians

Program Administration: Public Health Analysts I Program Analysts

Health Communications: Health Communication Specialists

Information Technology: Computer Programmers I Health Informatics

Centers and Programs