NIOSH Cross-Sectors - Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety Education and Research Center

NIOSH Cross-Sectors


The National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) is a partnership program to stimulate innovative research and improved workplace practices. NIOSH and its partners have formed NORA councils for sectors and cross-sectors, including participants from academia, industry, labor, and government. Each council drafts strategic objectives for the nation in NORA agendas. These agendas provide guidance to the entire occupational safety and health community for moving research to practice in workplaces.

The NIOSH cross-sectors focus on the major health and safety issues affecting the U.S. working population.

Cancer, Reproductive, Cardiovascular and Other Chronic Disease Prevention

Includes many types of occupational cancer, reproductive health, and cardiovascular disease as well as the evolving areas of occupational neurological and renal disease.

Hearing Loss Prevention

Focuses on prevention of occupational hearing loss due to hazardous noise exposure, ototoxic substances (chemical, pharmaceutical, metals) and interventions through research in surveillance, engineering noise control, personal protective equipment and best practices.

Immune, Infectious and Dermal Disease Prevention

Includes the study of immune diseases caused by work-related exposures, and workplace exposures to chemicals that can be absorbed through contact with skin that may result in adverse health impacts.

Musculoskeletal Health

Focuses on preventing musculoskeletal disorders, which are soft-tissue injuries caused by sudden or sustained exposure to repetitive motion, force, vibration, or awkward positions.

Respiratory Health

Advances primary and secondary prevention of work-related respiratory disease, addressing a range of hazardous exposures and their adverse respiratory health effect, and also seeks to improve workers’ respiratory health.

Traumatic Injury Prevention

Focuses on preventing injuries and related deaths to workers due to sudden events such as falls, motor vehicle crashes, violence, and being caught in or struck by machinery.

Healthy Work Design and Well-Being

Seeks to improve the design of work, work environments, and management practices in order to advance worker safety, health, and well-being. Within the healthy work design framework, worker well-being encompasses positive physical, emotional, mental, and economic health, and how these aspects of health relate to work and worker experiences from a comprehensive and holistic perspective.