Program Impact

NIOSH is strongly committed to program evaluation as a way to maximize its contributions to improved occupational safety and health. Regular review of program activities, outputs, and outcomes is essential to demonstrating program performance. The Construction Program conducts reviews and shares program impact in a variety of ways.

Program Performance One-pager

Program Performance One-Pagers (PPOPs) are a snapshot of NIOSH programs’ priorities, strategies used to make progress towards priorities, recent accomplishments, and upcoming work.

Construction Program Performance One-pager [PDF – 137 KB]

The National Construction Center Program Performance One-Pager [PDF – 286 KB]

Program Reviews

NIOSH understands that external expert review is one of the most valid and accepted methods of evaluating research programs. Consequently, NIOSH requested that the National Academies evaluate NIOSH research programs with respect to their impact, relevance, and future directions. The National Academies was asked to evaluate what NIOSH research programs are producing and to determine the extent to which NIOSH research is responsible for changes in the workplace that reduce the risk of occupational injuries, illnesses, and deaths. More information is available at the National Academies Evaluation of NIOSH Research Programs page.

The NIOSH Construction Program review by the National Academies was conducted during 2007-2008. The review focused on construction research and related activities conducted by and through NIOSH during 1996 -2006. At the conclusion of its review, the National Academies’ committee assigned a score of 5 (highest score possible) for relevance on the basis that the research was judged to be high priority in nature and that the program was significantly engaged in appropriate activities that transferred research findings to practice in the construction trades and on construction sites. The committee assigned the program a score of 4 for impact on the basis that NIOSH had made some contributions to construction health and safety as measured by either end outcomes or well-accepted intermediate outcomes.

On August 26, 2009, the Construction Program presented to the NIOSH Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) an initial implementation plan responding to the National Academies’ recommendations. The BSC commented on the NIOSH plan and also provided an additional recommendation. In August 2012 and subsequently in July 2014 Report to the NIOSH Board of Scientific Counselors, the NIOSH Construction Program summarized its progress and impact in implementing five of the six recommendations made by the National Academies, and addresses the additional BSC’s recommendation as well. In November 2014 Review of Progress Implementation Report for NIOSH Construction Program, the BSC provides scores and justifications on the Construction Program’s progress toward implementing select National Academies’ recommendations with all areas receiving a score of 4.5 or 5 (highest score possible is a 5). This document contains the scores and justifications provided by the NIOSH Board of Scientific Counselors on the Construction Program’s progress toward implementing select National Academies’ recommendations.