NIOSH

About Western States Division

At a glance

WSD, headquartered in Spokane, WA, conducts research to reduce a wide variety of occupational safety and health hazards, with a focus on issues faced by workers in the Western U.S.

What we do

WSD aims to improve safety and health for workers through research, intervention development, and evaluation, as well as by providing technical assistance in the West in collaboration with other NIOSH partners.

WSD employs the public health approach for its research programs through:

  • the collection and analysis of high quality data and scientific evidence,
  • close collaboration with partners,
  • prioritization of research efforts based on burden, need, and greatest potential impact,
  • development of tailored interventions designed to address identified occupational hazards, and
  • implementation of promising interventions in the workplace to move research into practice.

Focus

WSD manages several NIOSH research programs, including:

NIOSH Oil and Gas Extraction Sector Program (OGE)
The NIOSH Oil and Gas Extraction Program conducts research, works with partners, and develops and communicates workplace solutions to improve worker safety and health in the oil and gas extraction industry. Our research activities include:

  • analyzing surveillance data and conducting epidemiologic studies to identify leading causes of death and injury,
  • characterizing exposures to hazardous agents, such as chemicals, minerals, and noise to better understand the hazards and risks,
  • developing and evaluating engineering controls for the workplace,
  • investigating possible mechanisms of disease in oil and gas workers through laboratory research, and
  • communicating and distributing information to raise awareness of hazards and promote NIOSH recommendations.

Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (TWU) Program
The NIOSH Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities Program works with partners in industry, labor, government agencies, trade associations, professional organizations, and academia. The program focuses on reducing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities among TWU workers, prioritizing areas related to:

  • transportation and fatigue,
  • human-machine interaction, and
  • work-related obesity and chronic disease.

Center For Maritime Safety and Health Studies (CMSHS)
The NIOSH Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies conducts and supports research to improve safety and health for maritime workers, which are found in every U.S. state and across multiple industries and occupations, including:

Center for Motor Vehicle Safety (CMVS)
The NIOSH Center for Motor Vehicle Safety conducts research and develops strategies to prevent work-related motor vehicle crashes and resulting injuries. The CMVS emphasizes these industry sectors: Oil and Gas Extraction (OGE); Public Safety; Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (TWU); and Wholesale and Retail Trade. The CMVS prioritizes motor vehicle safety for:

  • truck drivers,
  • drivers in other high-risk jobs (e.g., emergency medical services workers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, OGE workers), and
  • drivers of light vehicles (passenger cars, SUVs, pickup trucks).

Western Regional Outreach & Epidemiology Program (WROE)
WROE was created to support WSD's projects that are related to industries and occupations started in or that are predominant in the West. WROE includes the following initiatives/project areas:

How we do it

WSD staff have experience in the following areas:

  • Epidemiology and Surveillance
  • Social and Behavioral Science
  • Health Equity Science
  • Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Health
  • Program Administration
  • Health Communication
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Content Source:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health