NIOSH Advisory Committees

The Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA) requires that advice provided to federal agencies by advisory committees must be objective and accessible to the public. This process provides transparency, informed advice by representatives from diverse areas of professional knowledge and affiliation, and valuable linkage with stakeholders and the public.

Five advisory committees provide advice and guidance to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the rules of FACA. They are:

The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) was established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to advise the Secretaries of Labor and Health and Human Services (HHS) on occupational safety and health programs and policies.

The Mine Safety and Health Research Advisory Committee (MSHRAC) was established under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to advise the Secretary, HHS; the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and the Director, NIOSH on the conduct of mine health and safety research.

The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health was established under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 to advise the Secretary of HHS, the Director of NIOSH, and the Director of the NIOSH Division on Compensation Analysis and Support on HHS and NIOSH activities.

The World Trade Center Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) was established by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010. The Zadroga Act requires the program administrator to seek advice from the STAC:

  • to determine eligibility criteria for responder and survivor membership in the Program.
  • to identify research needs for the Program.
  • to select the policies and procedures used to add conditions to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions, including consulting independent peer reviewers.

The Zadroga Act also provides that the administrator may consult with the STAC regarding whether a particular health condition should be added to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions.

The NIOSH Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) advises the NIOSH Director, primarily on NIOSH’s occupational safety and health research and prevention programs. The BSC also advises on standards of scientific excellence, current needs in the field of occupational safety and health, and the applicability and dissemination of research findings.

NIOSH welcomes any questions about the advisory committees and invites you to submit your name or to nominate a colleague for a future opening on the committee of interest. Please submit expressions of interest to NIOSH Advisory Committees.

Federal Advisory Committee

Federal Advisory Committee

Federal Advisory Committee

Lead Agency

Lead Agency

Lead Agency

NIOSH

NIOSH

NIOSH

OSHA

Lead Agency

OSHA

John Piacentino

NIOSH

John Piacentino

OSHA

Lead Agency

OSHA

Alice Shumate

NIOSH

Alice Shumate

OSHA

Lead Agency

OSHA

Scott Earnest

NIOSH

Scott Earnest