Education and Information Division (EID)

The Education and Information Division (EID) develops and transfers information and provides recommendations to foster prevention of occupational injuries and diseases. This is done through targeted information development and dissemination, training research, and the development of qualitative and quantitative risk assessments. EID also maintains the Institute's Internet website, exhibits program, audiovisual and publication support, and Docket Office. Major programs of emphasis include:

Information Dissemination

EID develops and delivers occupational safety and health information to workers, employers, health professionals, government agencies, labor unions, academia, and the public. We communicate through these methods:

• The NIOSH Web site.
• CDC toll-free phone, an online service(CDC-INFO).
• Publications.
• Exhibit Program.
• The NIOSH publications database.

To support these dissemination efforts, EID coordinates with CDC-INFO and manages the NIOSH publications’ database development and searching activity.

Development of Policy, Technical, and Educational Documents

EID researches workplace health and safety hazards to develop policy (e.g. criteria documents, technical and educational documents with recommendations for correcting and preventing them. The documents are used by a broad audience, including other Federal Agencies such as OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in regulatory efforts; they also educate workers, employers and the general public about workplace hazards and safe work practices. In addition, EID develops responses from NIOSH subject matter experts to Federal Agencies and others to assist them in development of regulations and other health and safety policy.

Translational Research

EID, in collaboration with internal and external partners, evaluates the effectiveness of occupational safety and health program interventions that are designed to deliver NIOSH research findings and recommendations to the workplace in such a way that they are utilized effectively to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. To achieve this, EID develops model training curricula and new training materials, investigates the effectiveness of various communication messages and methodologies, explores partnerships leading to increased use of OSH information in the workplace, and assesses the effectiveness of multiple dissemination and delivery mechanisms. The purpose of this research is to understand the multiple factors influencing integration and adoption of occupational safety and health information and best practices recommendations. This research leads to improved health and safety training programs, more effective training materials and informational products, greater awareness of health and safety hazards and their controls in the workplace, worker engagement in health and safety leading to safer workplace behaviors, and greater utilization of health and safety controls and administrative practices by management. All of these elements help decrease workplace injuries and fatalities. The current focus of EID Translational Research is addressing health disparities in targeted populations. Active projects include those with an emphasis on the occupational safety and health needs of immigrant workers, young and new workers, women, and those engaged in small businesses.

Risk Evaluation Program

EID develops qualitative and quantitative information on the risks from occupational exposure to health and safety hazards. These risk assessments support development of NIOSH internal policy and the development of standards by our regulatory partners at OSHA and MSHA, and are often relevant to other agencies such as EPA and the World Health Organization. Quantitative risk assessments presently being conducted include evaluations of the risk associated with exposures to diacetyl, 1-bromopropane and manganese in welding fume.