An Evaluation of NIOSH-Funded Centers and Their Response Activities Through the COVID-19 Pandemic: March 2020 to July 2021

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, workplaces served as an important nexus of disease transmission, increasing the need for evidence-based guidance in occupational safety and health. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for developing such evidence, and funds extramural centers for education, training and research. Using the results of a survey and key informant interviews, we document the impact of research and outreach collaborations by the centers during the pandemic. From 26 surveys and 9 interviews, several themes emerged. Through established partnerships, experts from the NIOSH-funded Centers translated and operationalized information from agencies for local businesses and workers; provided timely technical assistance and outreach; and engaged in research to study health impacts of COVID-19 on diverse worker populations. Overall, the NIOSH-funded centers and programs played an important role in providing critically needed occupational health and safety services to regional stakeholders during the pandemic. Continuing to develop intramural–extramural partnerships to be responsive during a public health emergency will allow these Centers to serve as local or regional subject matter experts, gather real-time data during an emergency event, and aid in the overall response for subsequent public health emergencies.