National Academies Review of the NIOSH Hearing Loss Research Program Lewis V. Wade, Ph.D. Senior Science Advisor National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health January 5, 2006

Presentation Objectives NIOSH goals for this review Overview of NIOSH and it’s research programs Questions and Discussion

Review of NIOSH Research Programs Conduct a series of studies to review NIOSH research activities with respect to: Impact of completed research in the workplace Relevance of research conducted Significant emerging issues

Why has NIOSH undertaken this review?

Quantitative Results “The committee will rate the performance of each program activity on a scale of 1 – 5 for the impact of the program in the workplace and for the success of the program in achieving its goals. For cases where the impact is difficult to measure, the committee may evaluate performance by using existing intermediate outcomes to estimate impact.”

Performance Measurement GPRA: Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, PL 103-62 Strategic and performance plans Performance reports PART: Program Assessment Rating Tool, President’s Management Council, 2002 Systematic method of assessing performance of program activities

Overview of NIOSH Research Programs

U.S. Occupational Illness and Injuries Work-related fatalities per day 16 from injuries (5524 in 2002) 137 from diseases 4.4 million non-fatal illnesses and injuries (2003) $49.6 billion -- direct costs for occupational injuries (2002)* Liberty Mutual Safety Index, 2004 *

OSH Act of 1970 PL 91-596 (1970) created OSHA and NIOSH To assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women

Occupational Safety and Health Regulation/Enforcement Research and Prevention Recommendations Department of Labor (DOL) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health The sole federal government organization charged with conducting occupational safety and health research.

NIOSH Vision Delivering on the nation’s promise – safety and health at work for all people through research and prevention

NIOSH Values Relevance Diversity Quality Partnership Access Performance Accountability

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 Research Agenda Before 1996: After 1996: National symposia on the leading causes of occupationally-related illness and injury Ten strategies After 1996: National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA)

National Occupational Research Agenda (1996) A national partnership effort 500 organizations and individuals outside NIOSH 21 research priorities to guide OSH research in the nation for the next decade

NORA (1996) Ongoing Effectiveness Evaluation Pre-award competitive external scientific review Mid-course external review of program Annual internal assessment of progress and success NORA at nine review

Develop sector specific research agendas to bring research to practice in the workplace Accept stakeholder input (www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora) Kick-off at the 2006 NORA Symposium on April 17-20, 2006

Research Councils: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing Services Construction Health care and social assistance Manufacturing Mining Services Transportation, warehousing, and utilities Wholesale and retail trade Cross-sector issues

Board of Scientific Counselors The Board of Scientific Counselors shall provide guidance to the Director, NIOSH, on research and preventions programs. Specifically, the Board shall provide guidance on the Institute's research activities related to developing and evaluating hypotheses, systematically documenting findings and disseminating results. The Board shall evaluate the degree to which the activities of NIOSH: (1) Conform to appropriate scientific standards, (2) address current, relevant needs, and (3) produce intended results.

NIOSH Operational Logic Model Mission: To Provide National and World Leadership to Prevent Work-related Illnesses and Injuries Research Partners External Factors : Economic and social conditions and regulatory environment Improvements in safety and health in workplaces Research * Surveillance , epidemiological and behavioral studies intervention studies laboratory and field studies exposure measurements and risk assessment control studies and development PPE studies and Intramural and extramural including domestic and international efforts such as work conducted at ERCs ARCs and WHO Global Network of Collaborating Centers OSHA MSHA other federal agencies ; NIOSH programs Congress State & local standards bodies labor trade and professional associations technology developers and manufacturers other researchers SH practitioners Employees employers industry educators regulators who reduce or prevent hazardous exposures or conditions Activities Intermediate and Final Activities Intermediate Activities Outputs Final Activities ( transformation ) ( implementation ) End Outcomes T r a n s f e Transfer - translation of research into practice products and technologies information dissemination capacity building through technical assistance HHE’s training and education Conduct Surveillance and evaluate intervention effectiveness Recommendations reports publications workshops databases conferences training and education materials and demonstration programs trained professionals tools and methods best practices developmental technologies licenses patents Outputs Pilot and / or market ready training and education guidance regulations major media releases websites Feedback Inputs Production Planning

NIOSH Operational Logic Model Inputs Activities Outputs Intermediate and Final Activities Intermediate Activities Outputs Final Activities (transformation) (implementation) End Outcomes Transfer

NIOSH Operational Logic Model Inputs Activities Outputs Intermediate and Final Activities Intermediate Activities Outputs Final Activities (transformation) (Implementation) End Outcomes Transfer

NIOSH Budget: 2000 – 2006 (proposed) $ Millions 286 286 276 273 277 260 226 2000 2002 2004 2006

NIOSH Locations and Staff ~1300 FTEs in: Cincinnati Morgantown Pittsburgh Spokane Atlanta Washington

NIOSH Staff Census by Occupation (Selected Research Categories) Total NIOSH FTEs = 1300

Divisions, Labs, and Offices Division of Respiratory Disease Studies Division of Safety Research Health Effects Laboratory Division Spokane Research Laboratory Pittsburgh Research Laboratory National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory Education and Information Division Division of Applied Research and Technology Division of Surveillance Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies Office of Compensation Analysis and Support

Extramural Programs Total: ~$100M

Intermediate and Final Activities Inputs Activities Outputs Intermediate and Final Activities Intermediate Activities Outputs  Final Activities (transformation) (Implementation) End Outcomes Transfer

Research Program Portfolio (includes all NIOSH research projects) Sector programs Cross-sector programs Tools and emphasis areas

Sector Programs (8) Agricultural, forestry & fishing Construction Healthcare & social assistance Manufacturing Mining Public and private services Trade Transportation, warehousing & utilities

Cross-Sector Programs (15) Authoritative recommendations development Cancer, reproductive, cardiovascular, neurologic & renal diseases Communications & information dissemination Emergency preparedness/response Global collaborations Health hazard evaluation Hearing loss prevention

Cross-Sector Programs (15) (continued) Immune, dermal & infectious diseases Musculoskeletal disorders Personal protective technology Radiation dose reconstruction Respiratory diseases Training grants Traumatic injury Work organization & stress-related disorders

Tools and Emphasis Programs (7) Economics Exposure assessment Engineering controls WorkLife initiative Occupational health disparities Small business assistance and outreach Surveillance

NIOSH Research-to-Practice Program Conceiving, Planning, Conducting, Evaluating, and Translating Research with our Partners…and with Impact in Mind

Intermediate and Final Activities Inputs Activities Outputs Intermediate and Final Activities Intermediate Activities Outputs  Final Activities (transformation) (Implementation) End Outcomes Transfer

Research Outputs Peer-reviewed publications NIOSH publications Communications to regulatory agencies or Congress

Intermediate and Final Activities Inputs Activities Outputs Intermediate and Final Activities Intermediate Activities Outputs Final Activities (transformation) (Implementation) End Outcomes Transfer

Transfer of Outputs to Customers Translation of research into practice, products and technologies Information dissemination: Web site Technical information inquiry services

Transfer of Outputs to Customers Capacity building through technical assistance Health hazard evaluation program Fatality investigation programs Firefighters Other targeted groups training and education Educational Research Centers Training project grants

Many Partners (for example) American Society of Safety Engineers Center to Protect Workers’ Rights American Industrial Hygiene Association American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine World Health Organization Pan American Health Organization

Intermediate and Final Activities Inputs Activities Outputs Intermediate and Final Activities Intermediate Activities  Outputs  Final Customers (transformation) (Implementation) End Outcomes Transfer

The final outcome we all seek is improved workplace health and safety

Quantitative Results “The committee will rate the performance of each program activity on a scale of 1 – 5 for the impact of the program in the workplace and for the success of the program in achieving its goals. For cases where the impact is difficult to measure, the committee may evaluate performance by using existing intermediate outcomes to estimate impact.”

Outputs of customers that we define as intermediate outcomes Regulations Guidance Standards Training and education programs Pilot technologies

NIOSH thoughts on NA review process Programs, not projects Importance of quantitative as well as qualitative assessment Bottom line effectiveness, not just a review of processes

NIOSH thoughts on the Framework Comfortable with the Framework No Framework can cover the breadth of NIOSH programs; EC may face some challenges We understand that arriving at a simple number rating is a difficult task, we also understand that some will place great importance in that number, we appreciate your efforts Keep in mind that NIOSH’s ultimate goals is to do “better” work, therefore your advice is welcome