NIOSH and AOHP Extend Partnership with Renewed Memorandum of Understanding

Contact: Christina Spring (202)245-0633

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Association of Occupational Health Professionals (AOHP) are continuing their collaborative partnership to protect the safety and health of our nation’s healthcare workers, signing a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to extend the partnership for another five years.

The healthcare sector employs over 18 million workers and is one of the fastest growing sectors in the U.S. economy. Workers may face a wide range of hazards while on the job and have among the highest number of cases of nonfatal workplace injury and illness.

"This partnership is important to our continued efforts to protect healthcare workers who have dedicated themselves to helping others," explains NIOSH Director John Howard, MD. "Renewing the MOU affords us greater opportunities to combine our resources to put NIOSH research into practice in the healthcare setting."

The MOU officially continues the collaboration between NIOSH and AOHP to promote best practices associated with workplace safety and health issues in the healthcare setting by:

• Developing and disseminating information on healthcare worker health and safety at appropriate conferences and through print and electronic media, including the NIOSH and AOHP websites.
• Participating at conferences, meetings and other key events where occupational safety and health issues are addressed.
• Advancing the effectiveness of occupational health and safety research, and promoting and facilitating the transfer of research results to practice.
• Exploring work with the NIOSH Education and Research Centers as a resource for training and research.
• Participating in appropriate committees of both NIOSH and AOHP.

"As a leading advocate and resource for health and safety protections for healthcare workers, AOHP is excited to continue our partnership with NIOSH to improve the well-being of our members and the employees they serve," comments AOHP Executive President Mary Bliss, RN, COHN. "We are pleased with what our organizations have accomplished together during the first decade of our MOU and look forward to building upon that foundation into the future."

AOHP is a national association representing thousands of healthcare workers whose vision is to be the defining resource and leading advocate for occupational health and safety in healthcare. AOHP promotes health, safety and well-being for healthcare workers through: advocating for employee health and safety; occupational health education and networking opportunities; health and safety advancement through best practice and research; and partnering with employers, regulatory agencies and related associations. In 2016, AOHP celebrated its 35th anniversary. For more information about AOHP or the MOU, contact Annie Wiest, AOHP Executive Director, at 800-362-4347, or e-mail info@aohp.org.

Learn more about NIOSH’s work in the healthcare sector.

NIOSH is the federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. For more information about NIOSH.