Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies

Program Goals

A key leadership role for the Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies is the development of research goals for maritime industries. The Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies is in the process of developing goals to guide NIOSH research and partnership efforts over the next decade. Below are the Center’s current goals:

Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies Program Strategic Goals

Objective 1:  Prevent work-related fatalities in maritime industries

Objective 2:  Prevent vessel casualties—collisions, capsizings, sinkings, explosions

Objective 3:  Prevent illness and injury from occupational health hazards

Objective 4:  Assess and promote effective safety and health programs which address hazards associated with a workplace with multiple employers and work arrangements, multi-language work settings, fatigue, and stress.

Maritime workers are employed in a range of industries and face risks which can vary depending on job task, the weather, and time of year Therefore, the goals of the Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies intersect with several sector and cross-sector programs within the NIOSH Program Portfolio.

NIOSH Program Portfolio Approach

NIOSH organizes its research, guidance, information, and service efforts into specific programs that can be readily communicated and strategically governed and evaluated. Ten sector programs represent industrial sectors, and seven cross-sector programs are organized around health and safety outcomes. There are also numerous core and specialty programs that represent special emphasis areas, methodological approaches, core activities and legislatively mandated programs.

The sector programs intersect with cross-sector programs in a matrix-like fashion, with relevant Core and Specialty Programs playing a supporting role. For example, a Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies Program goal of reducing deaths and injuries due to vessel casualties would likely be a shared goal with the Traumatic Injury Prevention Program and if appropriate would be adopted by both programs. This approach provides an added advantage and will allow multiple Programs to work towards accomplishment of intersecting NIOSH goals.

Those seeking NIOSH grants to conduct studies related to the maritime industries are invited to view the current funding opportunities.