NIOSH layoffs U-turn welcomed by IOSH

Back in April last year, IOSH expressed deep concern at proposed cuts to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in America and the likely impact they would have on worker safety and health.

The cuts came as part of a broader restructuring by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and put around two-thirds of NIOSH's workforce at risk. NIOSH is the federal institute responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness.

Yet, according to latest US media reports, the federal government in Washington is now reinstating hundreds of NIOSH employees. Bloomberg News and Inside Medicine said last week the HHS has emailed former agency workers stating that their reduction of force, or RIF, notifications are “hereby revoked”.

It isn’t known how many employees were emailed or which divisions would have employees reinstated. Nor is it clear whether employees will return to the agency after being away for months. Many may have moved to other jobs.

Reinstatement

“I am very encouraged by reports of the reinstatement of hundreds of employees at NIOSH,” said National Safety Council CEO Lorraine M Martin.

“NIOSH’s unique resources inform policy and industry practices that prevent work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities.

“NSC has advocated for this administration to make NIOSH whole again because a stable, fully funded and staffed NIOSH is essential to its mandate to make research-based recommendations that keep workers safe. A full reversal of staffing cuts should take place immediately.”

According to CBS News, HHS had originally planned to lay off more than 820 staff, though 328 NIOSH employees were reinstated within two months. Attorneys General from 19 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit challenging NIOSH’s actions.

Better standards

Poor health and safety harms people, communities, businesses, and the economy. Preventing harm and improving working conditions benefits everyone and drives better safety standards.

IOSH believed the originally proposed NIOSH cuts would have undermined worker protection across industries.

Ruth Wilkinson

Job role

Head of Policy and Public Affairs

Company

IOSH

IOSH made a similar call in the UK in its 2024 Election manifesto. We recognised that fundamental shifts are challenging traditional definitions of the health and safety profession.

We argued that to ensure the profession can continue to support all businesses in preventing occupational fatalities, injuries, ill health and diseases, a new UK Government has to invest in national OSH capacity. It must also strengthen pathways to good mental health and psychosocial risk management in business, OSH systems and occupational health services.

Better funding

IOSH still believes there needs to be better funding of Great Britain’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and other regulating bodies such as local authorities. While Britain and the UK has a strong record on safety and health compared to many other countries, HSE funding has reduced from £228 million in 2010 to £185 million in 2022.

This reduction has weakened the HSE’s ability to function effectively, witnessed by a reduction in the number of proactive inspections and an increase in mandatory investigations being cancelled.

Our 2024 manifesto called on the new Government to back the HSE to fulfil its role and help businesses prevent harm. This requires, we argued, increased staffing and funding to provide better guidance, do more inspections and ensure effective enforcement across HSE’s wider regulatory remit.

Needless to say, IOSH is delighted for all returning NIOSH workers and salutes them for their continued commitment, work and dedication to making workplaces safer and healthier.

Last updated: 21 January 2026