Public Safety Program

Law Enforcement

NIOSH Resources and Publications

Safety and Health in Law Enforcement
NORA is a partnership program designed to improve occupational safety and health across the nation. Law enforcement agencies and organizations are able to come together to collaborate on ways to reduce risks associated with personnel.

Nonfatal Injuries to Law Enforcement Officers: A Rise in AssaultsExternal
Using data from 2003-2014, NIOSH researchers found a significant upward trend in assault injuries among U.S. law enforcement officers.

Ebola Information for Law Enforcement Professionals in U.S.Cdc-pdf
NIOSH Fact Sheet on how Ebola is spread, symptoms, and ways law enforcement personnel are able to protect themselves from risk of exposure.

Fentanyl: Preventing Occupational Exposure to Emergency Responders
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic drug similar, yet much more potent, to morphine and heroin. Law enforcement personnel have a high risk of coming in contact with the drug, unknowingly from its many forms. Exposure can be quick and lethal.

The InterAgency Board:
- Recommendations on Selection and Use of Personal Protective Equipment and Decontamination Products for First Responders Against Exposure Hazards to Synthetic Opioids, Including Fentanyl and Fentanyl AnaloguesExternal
- Recommended Best Practices to Minimize Emergency Responder Exposures to Synthetic Opioids, Including Fentanyl and Fentanyl AnalogsCdc-pdfExternal

Evaluation of Needlestick Injuries and Other Exposures to Bloodborne Pathogens Among Officers in a City Police DepartmentCdc-pdf
Researchers reviewed records of needlestick injuries and other potential bloodborne pathogens exposure incidents among police officers in a city department.

Stress and Health in Law Enforcement
NIOSH Science Blog demonstrating how stress influences Law Enforcement Officers through the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) study.

Health Hazard Evaluations

A Health Hazard Evaluation is a study of a workplace that is done to learn whether workers are exposed to hazardous materials or harmful conditions and to provide recommendations for protecting these workers. More than 100 Health Hazard Evaluation Reports have been published related to Public Safety workers. You can search for reports of interest. A few examples are:

In December 2018, the NORA Public Safety Council hosted a webinar on HHEs. The archived recording is available below.

Exposures to Opioids and Other Controlled Substances Among Workers in the Public Safety Sector: NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Program – Lessons Learned and Data GapsExternal

Law Enforcement Officer Motor Vehicle Safety
Motor vehicle incidents are the leading cause of on-the-job deaths for U.S. Law Enforcement Officers. NIOSH has made this webpage to inform LEO of fast facts, resources, and news on how to reduce these incidences.

Law Enforcement Officer Motor Vehicle Crash and Struck-by Fatality Investigations Pilot Program
NIOSH Law Enforcement Reports:
- Trooper Struck By Vehicle While Investigating Crash on Interstate Highway – Oklahoma
- Sergeant Struck by a Motor Vehicle on Interstate Highway – New Mexico
Research in Brief: Officer involved Collisions: Magnitude, Risk Factors, and PreventionExternal : Vehicle collisions can have a tremendous emotional, physical, and financial impact on officers, their families, and their departments; yet, few formal research studies on these effects exist. Fortunately, several recent efforts have started to fill this knowledge gap.
NIOSH Motor Vehicle Safety Blog: Law Enforcement Officer Motor Vehicle Safety: Findings from a Statewide Survey This statewide survey included a random sample of 60 law enforcement agencies and nearly 1,500 sworn LEOs. Respondents were queried on a wide range of topics: motor-vehicle crashes and roadside incidents, seat belt usage, written motor-vehicle policies, and availability of occupational motor-vehicle training (frequency and type).
Take Charge of Your Safety In and Around Your Patrol Vehicle
Five simple things Law Enforcement Officers can do to keep safe in and around their patrol vehicle.

Indoor firing ranges are popular among law enforcement and recreational shooters because they offer protection from inclement weather conditions and can be operated around the clock under controlled environmental conditions. However, many firing range facilities lack environmental and occupational controls to protect the health of shooters and range personnel from effects of airborne lead, noise, and other potential exposures.

Some recent examples are: