NIOSH Faces Major Layoffs, Impacting Safety Programs
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a subsidiary of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has experienced significant layoffs that have severely compromised its operational capabilities. As of Friday, nearly all remaining staff were let go, leaving essential programs in limbo.
Background on the Layoffs
This latest round of layoffs follows an initial wave that occurred on April 1, orchestrated by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The earlier cuts had already led to a standstill in multiple initiatives, including essential safety equipment approvals and investigations into firefighter injuries and workplace health hazards.
Impacts on Key Programs
Key programs at NIOSH, especially those associated with firefighter health and safety, have now ceased operations. Layoffs affected various positions within the World Trade Center Health Program, including nurses and scientists involved in member services and administrative functions. Additionally, crucial safety programs concerning miner safety and protective technologies have been halted.
Specific Program Stagnation
- NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, responsible for approving equipment such as N95 masks, has indefinitely suspended the processing of around 100 applications for personal protective gear.
- The laboratory’s inability to certify new equipment has raised concerns, as new standards issued by the National Fire Protection Association remain unmet.
- Layoffs have stopped efforts to identify and mitigate counterfeiting of personal protective equipment, jeopardizing the safety of millions in various sectors, including healthcare and emergency services.
Consequences for Public Health
With the mass layoffs, critical functions aimed at ensuring workplace safety are at risk. A group of layoff-affected employees expressed their concerns in a letter stating, “Millions of workers across various sectors… depend on NIOSH-approved respirators. Without these approvals, their safety is compromised, leading to potential illness, injury, or even death.”
Future Uncertainty
The fate of NIOSH’s initiatives hangs in the balance as most teams have been dismantled. The agency has not provided clarity on how it plans to address these gaps or continue its mission to protect worker health amid growing challenges. A request for comment from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has yet to receive a response.