Healthcare and Social Assistance Program

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Healthcare and Social Assistance (HCSA) Program works with partners in industry, labor, trade associations, professional organizations, and academia. The program focuses on these areas:

• Mitigating the effects of sub-optimal work organization characteristics such as scheduling, workload, sleep quality and duration, on outcomes such as stress, anxiety, fatigue, depression, burnout, suicide, and chronic illnesses.
• Preventing injuries from lifting, falls, sharp instruments, and a variety of physical hazards including radiation and noise.
• Interrupting work-related transmission of infectious diseases including those transmitted through aerosols, droplet sprays, direct and indirect contact, and sharps injuries.
• Minimizing exposure to hazardous drugs and chemicals, allergens, and other substances associated with risk for cancer, adverse reproductive outcomes, dermal diseases, and work-related asthma.
• Reducing injuries associated with violent acts, especially among home care workers and workers in non-standard work arrangements.

Healthcare and Social Assistance Program pdf icon[PDF – 521 KB]

Suggested Citation

NIOSH [2018]. Healthcare and Social Assistance Program. By Casey, M., Boiano, J., Weissman, D., Reeves, K., and Novicki, E. Atlanta, GA: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 2018–168, https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2018168external icon