[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4976-4979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2212]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part C (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) of the 
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority of 
the Department of Health and Human Services (45 FR 67772-76, dated 
October 14, 1980, and corrected at 45 FR 69296, October 20, 1980, as 
amended most recently at 64 FR 59774, dated November 3, 1999) is 
amended to reflect the establishment of the Division of Applied 
Research and Technology by merging the Division of Biomedical and 
Behavioral Science and the Division of Physical Sciences and 
Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH).

[[Page 4977]]

    Section C-B, Organization and Functions, is hereby amended as 
follows:
    Delete in their entirety the titles and functional statements for 
the Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Science (CC7) and the 
Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering (CC8) and insert the 
following:
    Division of Applied Research and Technology (CC9). (1) Provides 
national and international leadership for the prevention of 
occupational injury and illness through applied research; (2) conducts 
laboratory research, field studies, and demonstrations to develop and/
or evaluate engineering control technology for biological, chemical, 
physical, and ergonomic hazards; (3) conducts laboratory research, 
field studies, and demonstrations to develop and/or evaluate work 
organization or work redesign prevention strategies to eliminate or 
minimize workplace injury and illness and to facilitate the development 
of health workplaces; (4) conducts research and demonstration projects 
to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of occupational health 
services, and to determine the social and economic burden of 
occupational illnesses and injuries, and the benefits of interventions; 
(5) develops, evaluates, and utilizes methods for the measurement of 
exposures, worker sensitivity to occupational hazards, and detection of 
the precursors of, or presence of, disease or illness; (6) serves as a 
resource to researchers who may require division expertise in their 
field or laboratory research.
    Monitoring Research and Statistics Activity (CC92). (1) Plans and 
conducts laboratory and worksite research to develop, evaluate, or 
improve aerosol science and its associated technology, and direct-
reading instruments and monitoring devices for aerosols; (2) plans and 
conducts research in statistics as applied to sampling and analytical 
methods, work organization, intervention effectiveness, and control 
technologies; (3) develops and evaluates criteria for the 
recommendation of new or improved monitoring instruments and monitoring 
techniques; (4) provides statistics support for research projects 
within the Division; (5) provides technical assistance within NIOSH in 
the application of new and improved monitoring systems.
    Biomonitoring and Health Assessment Branch (CC93). (1) Plans and 
conducts laboratory and worksite research on the assessment of workers' 
exposures or effects of exposures, through the analysis of various 
human tissues and fluids; (2) partners in intervention or prevention 
studies in which exposure or effect of exposure is assessed through 
biomonitoring; (3) evaluates worker sensitivity factors that may impact 
the result of a hazardous exposure; (4) provides technical assistance 
and consultation to the Institute, other governmental agencies, private 
industry, and organized labor regarding the toxicologic aspects of 
workers' response to the etiologic agents in the occupational setting; 
(5) provides bviomonitoring and health assessment consultation and 
analyses for health hazard evaluations, epidemiologic, intervention and 
prevention, environmental measurement and other investigations.
    Biological Monitoring Laboratory Section (CC932). (1) Develops and 
applies new and existing biological monitoring analytical methods to 
assess worker exposure or body burden to toxic chemicals to evaluate 
the effectiveness of engineering controls or other exposure reduction/
prevention measures; (2) provides analytical and biological monitoring 
consultation for field and experimental investigations; (3) plans and 
conducts laboratory research to develop immunochemical methods for 
determining early health effects arising from occupational exposure; 
(4) works in partnership with NIOSH partners and stakeholders in 
planning and conducting studies in specialized areas, such as 
biological monitoring.
    Molecular and Genetic Monitoring Section (CC933). (1) Develops and 
employs sophisticated and sensitive molecular and biochemical 
techniques to assess exposure to occupational toxicants; (2) 
identifies, evaluates, and utilizes biomarkers of exposure and 
biomarkers of effect of exposure that can be utilized as early 
indicators of toxic response to aid in the prevention and control of 
occupational disease; (3) develops and utilizes methods to determine 
potential differences in workers' sensitivity in response to exposure 
to occupational toxicants; (4) works in partnership with NIOSH partners 
and stakeholders in planning and conducting studies in specialized 
areas, such as biomarker research.
    Reproductive Health Assessment Section (CC934). (1) Develops, 
modifies, and employs laboratory and clinical measures of human health 
surveillance and field study investigations of workplace hazards; (2) 
plans and conducts the laboratory portion of health assessments with 
other NIOSH staff involved in health hazard evaluations and 
epidemiologic studies of reproductive health and endocrine function; 
(3) works in partnership with NIOSH partners and stakeholders in 
planning and conducting studies of reproductive health and endocrine 
function.
    Chemical Exposure and Monitoring Branch (CC94). (1) Conducts 
research that develops, improves, and evaluates analytical methods for 
the determination of toxic materials, their products, and other 
significant hazards found in the workplace, in the physical 
environment, and in industrial and biologic materials; (2) provides 
industrial hygiene measurement consultation and specialty analyses to 
NIOSH research though in-house and contract laboratories; (3) provides 
expert consultation regarding science and analytical methods to assist 
in the development of occupational health documents and exposure 
standards; (4) conducts research to improve, evaluate, and establish 
performance requirements for direct reading instrumentation used in the 
evaluation and prevention of exposures to hazardous levels of chemical 
agents; (5) provides validation procedures for sampling and analytical 
methods; (6) provides special consultation to elements of NIOSH and 
other government agencies; (7) disseminates the information gained 
during research on sampling and analytical methods by publications in 
the peer reviewed literature and in the NIOSH Manual of Analytical 
Methods.
    Analytical Chemistry Section (CC942). (1) Conducts research in 
response to requests from field researchers for the development of new 
sampling and analytical methods for the detection and quantitation of 
chemical substances found in the workplace; (2) conducts research to 
revise/update sampling and analytical methods contained in the NIOSH 
Manual of Analytical Methods; (3) provides expert consultation on 
industrial hygiene sampling and analytical chemistry to assist NIOSH 
investigators in planning field surveys as well as other government 
agencies and private industry; (4) provides chemical analyses for NIOSH 
researchers through laboratory contracts and specialty analyses through 
the in-house laboratories.
    Analytical Methods Development Section (CC943). (1) Conducts 
research that develops, evaluates and improves sampling and analytical 
methods for the detection and determination of substances and their 
mixtures found in the workplace, in industrial processes and products, 
and in environmental samples; (2) conducts research to develop and 
evaluate instrumentation/techniques for field-portable analytical 
methods; (3) provides expert consultation in industrial hygiene 
sampling and analytical chemistry to

[[Page 4978]]

private industry, consensus standard setting organizations, other 
government agencies and to elements of NIOSH; (4) provides critical 
review of chemistry aspects of documents and standards, recommending 
appropriate sampling and analytical methods.
    Qualitative Methods and Complex Mixtures Section (CC944). (1) 
Conducts research to develop, evaluate, and improve methods for 
quantitative and qualitative analysis of chemicals and complex mixtures 
found in the workplace, in industrial processes and products, and in 
environmental samples; (2) provides qualitative and quantitative 
analysis of industrial hygiene samples from NIOSH field studies by 
means of chromatographic/spectrometric analysis; (3) provides expert 
consultation in chemical analysis to other government agencies and to 
elements of NIOSH; (4) provides critical review of chemical aspects of 
criteria documents and standards, and recommends appropriate sampling 
and analytical methods.
    Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch (CC95). (1) Plans and 
conducts worksite and laboratory research to identify, evaluate, 
develop and implement technology to prevent workers' exposures to 
chemical, biological, and physical agents and reduce risks for 
traumatic and repetitive injuries; (2) plans and conducts worksite and 
laboratory research to identify hazards and engineering controls 
related to emerging technologies and changing work environments, 
including the application of substitution, isolation, and ventilation 
technology to reduce hazardous exposures; (3) plans and conducts 
laboratory and worksite research to minimize occupational noise 
exposures and to develop strategies to prevent occupational hearing 
loss; (4) plans and conducts worksite and laboratory research on 
occupational health risks resulting from workers' exposures to 
physical, chemical, and biological agents; (5) develops or evaluates 
new or improved instruments and exposure assessment techniques, 
evaluates criteria for the recommendation of such instruments or 
techniques, and promotes the transfer of widespread application of 
effective engineering control measures for safeguarding workers' 
health; (6) provides expert consultation to elements of NIOSH, other 
agencies, and external partners, in the application of new and improved 
techniques for hazard prevention and engineering control for the 
formulation of effective and credible workplace standards.
    Control Technology Section (CC952). (1) Conducts laboratory and 
worksite research to assess potential occupational health problems 
resulting from workers' exposures to chemical, biological, and 
ergonomic hazards; (2) conducts laboratory and worksite research in 
substitution, isolation, and ventilation technology; (3) conducts 
laboratory and worksite research for controlling potential hazards in 
emerging technologies and changing workplace environments; (4) provides 
engineering expertise in formulating effective and feasible workplace 
standards; (5) provides technical consultation to other elements of 
NIOSH and external partners in the application of new and improved 
techniques for hazard prevention.
    Engineering Assessment Section (CC953). (1) Plans and conducts 
worksite research to assess, demonstrate, or develop engineering 
control techniques for hazardous materials, industries, or processes; 
(2) plans and conducts field research in partnership with other NIOSH 
divisions and industry; (3) promotes the transfer and widespread 
application of effective preventive engineering control measures for 
safeguarding worker health; (4) provides engineering expertise in 
formulating effective and feasible workplace standards; (5) provides 
technical consultation to other elements of NIOSH and external partners 
in the application of new and improved techniques for hazard 
prevention.
    Hearing Loss Prevention Section (CC954). (1) Plans and conducts 
laboratory and worksite research in hearing loss prevention that 
encompasses the study of basic etiology, control technology, personal 
protective equipment, and intervention effectiveness; (2) collects and 
evaluates data fundamental to defining primary health risk criteria and 
specifying standards for preventing hearing loss from exposures to 
physical agents, such as noise, vibration, and heat, as well as from 
exposures to ototoxic chemical agents; (3) assesses impact of noise on 
communication and environmental awareness, which may create safety 
hazards, and develops ameliorative methods; (4) studies and develops 
methods pertinent to hearing-impaired workers for assessing 
communication handicap, for developing hearing protection strategies, 
for defining hearing critical jobs, and for remediating hearing loss 
with rehabilitation, including amplification; (5) evaluates, develops, 
and implements instrumentation, methodologies, and techniques for 
measurement, control, and programmatic intervention demanded by the 
research effort; (6) maintains liaison and cooperates with other 
organizational components of NIOSH, Federal, State, local, and 
international agencies on problems associated with potential health and 
other occupational hazards that result from exposure to noise and other 
ototoxic agents, and provides technical assistance as necessary.
    Nonionizing Radiation Section (CC955). (1) Plans and conducts 
laboratory and worksite research on occupational health risks resulting 
from workers' exposures to nonionizing radiation, including those 
hazards produced by emerging technologies; (2) develops and evaluates 
techniques, instrumentation, and methodologies for measurement and 
evaluation of worker exposures to nonionizing radiation which present a 
potential health hazard; (3) develops occupational health and safety 
criteria and procedures for reducing nonionizing radiation exposures 
associated with risks of adverse health effects; (4) develops and 
evaluates controls, methodologies, and practices for minimizing 
exposures to nonionizing radiation; (5) provides expert consultation to 
other components of NIOSH, other agencies and external partners in 
dealing with problems associated with potential hazards resulting from 
nonionizing radiation exposures.
    Engineering Development Section (CC956). (1) Plans and conducts 
worksite and laboratory research to assess, demonstrate, or develop 
engineering control techniques for hazardous materials, industries, or 
processes; (2) conducts computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for design 
and evaluation of workplace controls; (3) promotes the transfer and 
widespread application of effective preventive engineering control 
measures for safeguarding worker health; (4) provides engineering 
expertise in formulating effective and feasible workplace standards; 
(5) provides technical consultation to other elements of NIOSH and 
external partners in the application of new and improved techniques for 
hazard prevention; (6) provides maintenance and calibration of field 
and laboratory equipment.
    Organizational Science and Human Factors Branch (CC96). (1) 
Conducts applied laboratory and worksite research on organizational and 
ergonomic interventions to prevent occupational illness and injury, 
including physical, neurobehavioral, and psychological disorders, and 
the economic, social, and organizational burdens associated with these 
outcomes. Organizational and

[[Page 4979]]

ergonomic topics of study include management, supervisory, and 
employment practices; worker demographics and special populations; job, 
tool, and environmental design; design of health and safety services; 
and the interaction of these conditions. The scope of research includes 
(a) etiologic and health effects studies to serve as the basis for 
intervention strategies; (b) design and testing of prototype 
interventions in laboratory and controlled environments, and 
collaboration with external partners and organizations to field test 
and validate, and disseminate intervention techniques; (c) 
methodological research to better characterize exposures, outcomes, and 
their relationships; (2) provides technical assistance to other NIOSH 
and governmental units and to private organizations in the 
investigation of organizational and ergonomic stressors in the 
workplace and in the design and testing of prevention measures; (3) 
develops and disseminates scientific and technical reports on 
organizational and physical risk factors at work, and intervention 
strategies.
    Human Factors and Ergonomics Research Section (CC962). (1) Plans 
and conducts integrated laboratory and field studies to develop and 
evaluate ergonomic interventions for preventing musculoskeletal 
injuries, neurobehavioral illnesses, fatigue, and social, economic and 
other losses resulting from exposure to physical, environmental and 
organizational stressors at work; (2) plans and conducts etiologic 
studies to provide the foundation for the development of ergonomic 
interventions, including laboratory and worksite research to assess the 
individual and interactive effects of physical stressors (excessive 
force, posture, etc.) and organizational stressors (e.g., long work 
hours, time pressure) on occupational injury and illness risk: (3) 
plans and conducts research leading to improved methods for exposure 
assessment to physical stressors and characterizing dose-response 
relationships; (4) provides assistance to other organizational units of 
NIOSH and to other Federal agencies in the assessment and prevention of 
risk for occupational injury and illness.
    Health Services Research Section (CC963). (1) Plans and conducts 
research to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of occupational 
health care services, including access to and utilization of health 
care services, availability of trained health professionals and 
providers, and efficacy and efficiency of care; (2) conducts 
intervention research (intervention development, demonstration, and 
effectiveness research) to evaluate occupational health services and 
occupational health delivery systems and programs, including the 
social, economic, and organizational benefits of these services and 
programs; (3) provides technical assistance and collaborates with 
external organizations, including academia, industry, labor, and health 
care provider organizations in the implementation, evaluation and 
promotion of innovative occupational health services and occupational 
safety and health programs; (4) conducts research to evaluate the 
economic and social outcomes of occupational illnesses and injuries, 
and the benefits of interventions.
    Work Organization and Stress Research Section (CC964). (1) Plans 
and conducts laboratory and field studies to characterize 
organizational stressors in the workplace and worker demographic 
factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, culture, age, etc., to study 
the effects and interactive effects of these variables on stress, 
illness, injury, and disability, and on social, economic and family 
outcomes, and to develop and test intervention strategies; (2) conducts 
survey studies to identify emerging work organization risk factors and 
related developments (new organizational structures and process 
changing employment relationships such as contingent labor 
arrangements, increasing workforce diversity and changing worker 
demographics) and investigate their effects on worker health, injury 
and other outcomes; (3) collaborates with external organizations to 
develop field-test and disseminate work organization, workforce 
development, and related interventions that promote worker health, 
safety, and other desirable outcomes; (4) provides technical assistance 
inside and outside of NIOSH in the conduct of etiologic and 
intervention studies addressing work organization and related factors.

    Dated: January 18, 2000.
Jeffrey P. Koplan,
Director.
[FR Doc. 00-2212 Filed 2-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-18-M