NIOSH Program Portfolio

Prevention through Design

Inputs: National Research Agenda (NORA)

Sector-Based Approach

The National Occupational Research Agenda is a partnership program to stimulate innovative research and improved workplace practices. Unveiled in 1996, NORA has become a framework for occupational safety and health research in the nation. Diverse parties collaborate to identify the most critical issues in workplace safety and health. Partners then work together to develop goals, objectives and an implementation plan for addressing these needs.

Stakeholder Comments

The Prevention through Design (PtD) National Initiative was launched during the first PtD Workshop held in Washington, DC on July 9 -11, 2007. The purpose of the Workshop was to engage stakeholders in open discussions about the need for eliminating occupational hazards and controlling risks to workers “at the source,” or as early as possible in the life cycle of facilities, equipment, production or processes. The PtD Workshop utilized the sector-based framework established by NIOSH for the second decade of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA).

Approximately 250 participants from diverse industry sectors and occupational disciplines attended the three-day event. Keynote and plenary speakers spotlighted the success of PtD in several industries in the U.S. and internationally. Participants engaged in breakout sessions to identify industry-centered opportunities and barriers, to develop sector specific recommendations, and to map out over-arching issues for the four functional areas in the PtD framework (Research, Education, Practice and Policy). Rapporteurs from the eight industrial sectors and four functional areas summarized the discussions of their breakout sessions and published their findings in the April 2008 edition of the Journal of Safety Research. These Rapporteurs reports, papers documenting the presentations by the keynote speakers as well as six, peer-reviewed research papers are included at the link above.

The success of the PtD Plan for the National Initiative depends on:

1. Members’ commitment to participating in a particular goal and/or their desire to serve as a partner in any dissemination efforts.
2. The availability of research funding and interested researchers.
3. The availability of individuals with PtD expertise to help implement the program. NIOSH will act as coordinator for the Plan. Ultimately, its success depends on active participation by partners and other stakeholders who are charged with working to accomplish the goals sets forth in the Plan.

PtD Council

Subsequent to the Workshop in 2007, a PtD Council was convened consisting of a broad range of stakeholders including organizational partners, representatives from industry, labor, academia, and government, and PtD experts. The PtD Council members agreed to help draft the Prevention through Design Plan for the National Initiative including specific goals, activities, outcomes and performance measures for successfully integrating PtD into all business practices that affect workers. PtD Council members will also participate in on-going meetings and lead workgroups to implement the PtD Agenda. Corresponding Members to the PtD Council consist of interested stakeholders who are willing to participate in any of the specific work groups.

PtD Council Members

• Michael Behm, East Carolina University
• Donald Bloswick, University of Utah
• Theodore Braun, Liberty Mutual
• Wayne Christensen, Christensen Consulting for Safety Excellence, Ltd.
• Noah Connell, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Lucy Crane, Whole Health Management
• June Fisher, Training for Development of Innovative Control Technologies Project
• John Gambatese, Oregon State University
• Charles Geraci, NIOSH
• Donna Heidel, NIOSH, PtD National Initiative Coordinator
• David Heidorn, American Society of Safety Engineers
• James Howe, Safety Solutions
• Mary Ann Latko, American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Mei-Li Lin, National Safety Council
• Joanne Linhard, ORC WorldWide™
• Bruce Main, Design Safety Engineering, Inc.
• Fred Manuele, Hazards, Limited
• James McGlothlin, Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering
• John Mroszczyk, Northeast Consulting Engineers, Inc.
• Margaret Quinn, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Danezza Quintero, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Andrea Okun, NIOSH
• Michael Pankonin, Association of Equipment Manufacturers
• James Platner, Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR)
• Scott Schneider, Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America
• Paul Schulte, NIOSH, PtD, Program Manager
• Richard Sesek, University of Utah
• Erica Stewart, Kaiser Permanente
• John Weaver, Birck Center for Nanotechnology Research
• Frank White, ORC WorldWide™
• Dee Woodhull, ORC WorldWide™
  

NIOSH Program:

Prevention through Design

• Program Description

• Inputs
  • Sector-Based Recommendations
  • Economic Factors
  • National Research Agenda (NORA)
  • NIOSH Strategic Goals
  • Emerging Issues
  • Partners
  • NIOSH Contacts

• Activities
  • NIOSH Research Projects
  • NIOSH Funded Research Grants

• Outputs
  • Publications and Products
  • Topic Pages
  • Research to Practice
  • Conferences

• Outcomes

• Review & Evaluation
  • Program Review