Education and Research Centers

Overview

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 requires NIOSH to provide an adequate supply of qualified personnel to implement it. The 18 NIOSH Education and Research Centers (ERCs) have a key role in meeting this requirement.

ERCs are academic institutions that provide high-quality training, continuing education, and outreach.

Interdisciplinary graduate and post-graduate training

ERCs focus on the core occupational safety and health disciplines of industrial hygiene, occupational health nursing, occupational medicine, and occupational safety. Allied disciplines are also offered through many of the ERCs. This includes occupational health psychology, Total Worker Health, mining safety, agricultural safety and health, and ergonomics.

Research training

Research and research training are integral components of ERCs. ERC faculty and trainees conduct research on priorities in the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) and emerging issues.

Continuing education and outreach

ERCs serve as resources for our nation's workforce through continuing education and outreach in their region. ERCs have strong collaborations with professional associations, worker advocacy groups, businesses, industries, and public health agencies.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

ERCs enhance diversity, equity and inclusion in the safety and health workforce. ERCs work with Minority Serving Institutions and other NIOSH supported training programs to provide opportunities for students and collaborations.

Impact

Emergency Response

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ERCs responded rapidly to the needs of students, faculty, and staff at their universities. They shared their expertise with businesses and organizations in their region. They provided guidance on proper use and decontamination of personal protective equipment and respirator fit testing. They also advised on social distancing for worksites and the use of physical protective barriers. Many ERCs developed communication products, resource guides, online courses, and webinars on safe work practices during the pandemic.

ERCs continue to train safety and health practitioners and researchers with the knowledge and skills for emergency preparedness and response. Historically, ERCs have provided expertise in worker health and safety following events such as:

• Hurricanes (Katrina, Maria, and Harvey)
• Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
• Illicit drug exposures to law enforcement and EMS personnel
• Ebola and influenza outbreaks

Future Workforce

NIOSH's network of ERCs is critical in developing professionals prepared to respond to the changing nature of work. New technologies, and the combined pace of automation and globalization, are changing work and workplaces. Employers and workers must navigate issues such as an aging workforce, gender and racial inequalities, and climate change.

The ERCs provide well-trained graduates and professionals who go on to work for:

• Federal, state, and local government agencies
• Non-profit organizations
• Academic institutions
• Industry organizations and businesses
• Healthcare organizations
• Labor organizations

Over 20,000 individuals have graduated from ERCs in the core and allied disciplines of occupational health and safety since 1977.

ERCs

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1. Deep South Center for Occupational Health and Safety at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
2. Northern California ERC at the University of California, Berkeley
3. Southern California ERC at the University of California, Los Angeles and University of California, Irvine
4. University of Cincinnati ERC at the University of Cincinnati
5. Mountain and Plains ERC at University of Colorado Denver
6. Harvard T.H. Chan ERC at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
7. Great Lakes Center for Occupational Health and Safety (Illinois ERC) at University of Illinois at Chicago
8. New York and New Jersey ERC at the Ichan Mount Sinai School of Medicine
9. Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety at the University of Iowa
10. Johns Hopkins ERC at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
11. Central Appalachian Regional ERC at the University of Kentucky
12. Center for Occupational Health and Safety Engineering at the University of Michigan
13. Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety at the University of Minnesota
14. North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
15. Sunshine ERC at the University of South Florida
16. Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
17. Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Utah and Weber State University
18. Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety at the University of Washington

Funding sources

NIOSH funds ERCs under RFA-OH-25-002. Previously, ERCs were funded under RFA-OH-23-003. New awards are for three years and renewals are for five years.