NIOSH Program Portfolio

Health Hazard Evaluations

Inputs: NIOSH Strategic Goals

The NIOSH Sector Research Councils are in the process of developing strategic goals to guide research and partnership efforts over the next decade.

NIOSH previously used priority topic areas (e.g., traumatic injury, hearing loss) to guide research efforts. Goals take this approach a step further by identifying specific outcomes that we want to target, performance measures for evaluating progress in meeting the outcome goals, and intermediate goals to describe the necessary steps that need to be performed to accomplish the goal. Setting goals is challenging because

• It forces us to focus on a subgroup of issues where we think NIOSH can make an impact —a long list would spread our resources too thin to accomplish the goals. Not every worthwhile topic can be included.
• It is difficult to develop performance measures. Available injury statistics have limitations, and exposure and health outcome measures are typically not available.
• It is ambitious for NIOSH to set goals to achieve outcomes such as reductions in a national fatality rate. NIOSH is a research agency so we do not often directly influence outcomes—we must partner well and influence other groups to show results.

NIOSH Program Portfolio Approach

NIOSH has been organizing research, guidance, information, and service efforts into specific programs that can be readily communicated and strategically governed and evaluated. Eight NORA Sector Programs represent industrial sectors, and twenty-four Cross-sector Programs organized around adverse health outcomes, statutory programs and global efforts.

The NORA Sector Programs intersect with Cross-Sector Programs in a matrix-like fashion. For example, an Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Program goal of reducing farm-related deaths and injuries due to tractor rollovers and trucks would likely be a shared goal with the Transportation 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 goals.

Each of the 32 programs in the NIOSH Program Portfolio has a Manager and Coordinator. Each of the 8 NIOSH Sector Programs facilitates the work of a NORA Sector Council to engage external stakeholders in the process of developing sector goals for the nation and methods to measure the short-term, intermediate and long-term outcomes arising from those goals. The NORA goals for the nation will be considered when choosing NIOSH sector program goals. Cross Sector programs have internal Steering Committees that develop program goals and monitor outcome measures.

These planning efforts will position NIOSH to align with the most current governmental approaches for evaluating program effectiveness, i.e., the Program Assessment Rating Tool (or PART). PART is a mechanism to hold governmental agencies accountable for accomplishing results. As part of our comprehensive approach to performance measurement, NIOSH has engaged the National Academies to independently evaluate our sector and cross-programs for relevance and impact.

Draft Health Hazard Evaluation Program Goals

Strategic goal 1: Prevent occupational illnesses through reduced exposure to workplace hazards.

Intermediate goals:

• HHE Program customers request assistance for high priority occupational health problems.
• Workplaces investigated by the HHE Program implement HHE Program recommendations to ameliorate hazards.
• Employers and employees at workplaces where the HHE Program provided technical assistance/consultation have information that is helpful in addressing workplace concerns.
• Professional practices, guidelines, policies, standards, and regulations are influenced by information generated from the HHE Program.

Strategic goal 2: Promote occupational safety and health research on emerging issues.

Intermediate goal:

• HHE Program customers will have information about emerging issues.

Strategic goal 3: Protect the health and safety of workers during public health emergencies.

Intermediate goals:

• HHE Program partners and customers have essential information to address high priority occupational health issues during public health emergencies.
• HHE Program personnel respond appropriately to requests for assistance.
• The HHE Program is ready to respond to requests for assistance.

NIOSH is interested in your opinions about the relevance and value of strategic goals for the HHE Program. We encourage you to consider partnering with us on issues of interest to you and your organization.

NIOSH Program:

Health Hazard Evaluations

Program Description
Inputs
• National Research Agenda (NORA)
• NIOSH Strategic Goals
• Partnerships & Stakeholders
• NIOSH Contacts
Activities
• NIOSH Research Projects
Outputs
• Publications
• Topics
• Products
• Outreach
• Research to Practice
Outcomes
Review & Evaluation
• Program Review
• National Academies Evaluation