What Does NIOSH Do?

Each day, an average of 9,000 U.S. workers sustain disabling injuries on the job, 16 workers die from an injury sustained at work, and 137 workers die from work-related diseases. The economic burden of this continuing toll is high. Data from a NIOSH-funded study reveal $171 billion annually in direct and indirect costs of occupational injuries and illnesses ($145 billion for injuries and $26 billion for diseases). These costs compare to $33 billion for AIDS, $67.3 billion for Alzheimer's Disease, $164.3 billion for circulatory diseases, and $170.7 billion for cancer. This enormous toll can be reduced. Much progress has been made to date, largely based on the science and knowledge generated from occupational safety and health research. Most of this research is conducted or funded by NIOSH. To lead occupational safety and health research into the next decade, NIOSH and its partners have developed the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA).