NIOSH Announces Appointment of New Director to Spokane Mining Research Division

Press Contact: Stephanie Stevens (202) 245-0641

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has appointed Dr. Eric A. Lutz as Director of its new Spokane Mining Research Division, part of the NIOSH Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR).

“Dr. Lutz’s expertise in miner health and safety will be critical as this new NIOSH research division expands to address the special needs of the extractive industries in the western United States,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “I am pleased to welcome Dr. Lutz to NIOSH and am confident his leadership will help the Division move forward in its mission to ensure the health and safety of the dedicated workers within the mining industry."

In his new role, Dr. Lutz will provide oversight, guidance, and direction to research personnel and support NIOSH’s cutting-edge health and safety research focused on the mining community. He will help guide the translation of research results into practice to ultimately protect the health and improve the lives of miners and mining communities.

Prior to joining NIOSH, Dr. Lutz served as Assistant Professor in the Division of Community, Environment, and Policy at the Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona (UA) in Tucson while concurrently serving as the UA Director of Mining Health and Safety Programs. He also brings a wealth of health and safety expertise garnered in the private sector working for organizations such as Battelle Memorial Institute and BioGard Environmental Services.

A Certified Mine Safety Professional, Dr. Lutz also serves as the director and co-founder of the Health and Safety Technical Advisory Committee of the Institute for Mineral Resources and is chair of the Health and Safety Division in the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. He is also the co-founder and vice chair of the Mining Working Group of the American Industrial Hygiene Association.

Dr. Lutz received a Master of Science degree from The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Public Health. He also holds a doctorate in Environmental Health Sciences, also from OSU College of Public Health. 

The Spokane Mining Research Division was created in April 2015, and is located at the NIOSH facility in Spokane, Washington. 

NIOSH is the federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. For more information about NIOSH visit www.cdc.gov/niosh/.