National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH): Water-Related Activities

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH objectives include conducting research to reduce work-related illnesses and injuries, promoting safe and healthy workplaces through interventions, recommendations and capacity building and enhancing global workplace safety and health through international collaborations.

Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies (DSHEFS)

• Collaborating with the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) on a health hazard evaluation to investigate the effects of indoor air and water quality on worker-related illnesses at an indoor waterpark.
  • For more information, visit NIOSH’s Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-2007-0163-3062, investigation of employee symptoms at an indoor waterpark, Great Wolf Lodge, Mason, Ohio [PDF - 64 pages]
• Developing recommendations for pool designers, pool managers, and local health officials that will be included in NIOSH’s Workplace Solutions series. These research-based recommendations aim to reduce the chances of worker-related illnesses at indoor pools and waterparks.

Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART)

• Researching environmental non-tuberculosis mycobacteria and tuberculosis mycobacteria contamination.
  • For more information, visit Rapid Detection and Determination of the Aerodynamic Size Range of Airborne Mycobacteria Associated with Whirlpools