The Sector-based Approach

NIOSH and its partners have formed ten NORA Sector Councils, including participants from academia, industry, labor, and government. Each Council draft goals, performance measures, and implementation plans for the nation. These agendas provide guidance to the entire occupational safety and health community for moving research to practice in workplaces.

What are the sectors?

Sector definitions follow the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), which has replaced the U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. More information about NAICS can be found on the U.S. Census Bureau North American Industry Classification System page. NAICS provides definitions for 20 sectors which NIOSH aggregated into ten sector groups as follows:

NORA Sector Group	NAICS Code
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing	11
Construction	23
Healthcare & Social Assistance	62, 54194, 81291
Manufacturing	31-33
Mining (except Oil and Gas Extraction)	21
Oil and Gas Extraction	211, 213111 & 213112
Public Safety	92212, 92214, 92216 & 62191
Services (except Public Safety)	51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 61, 71, 72, 81 & 92
Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities	48-49 & 22
Wholesale and Retail Trade	42 & 44-45

More information about the sectors can be accessed through the NIOSH Program Portfolio page.

What is NIOSH's role?

NIOSH is the steward of NORA and facilitates the work of the Sector Councils, which develop and implement research agendas for the occupational safety and health community.