U.S. flag An official website of the United States government

On Oct. 1, 2024, the FDA began implementing a reorganization impacting many parts of the agency. We are in the process of updating FDA.gov content to reflect these changes.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  1. Home
  2. About FDA
  3. FDA Organization
  4. Office of the Commissioner
  5. Office of the Chief Scientist
  6. Office of Occupational Safety and Health
  1. Office of the Chief Scientist

Office of Occupational Safety and Health Also referred to as: OOSH

Vision 

The Office of Occupational Safety and Health’s (OOSH) vision is for FDA to serve as a model of excellence for its robust and integrated laboratory science, laboratory security, environmental, and occupational safety and health programs. 

Mission 

  • Ensure that FDA’s laboratories and workplaces are operated in a safe and secure manner to protect employees, the surrounding communities, and the environment; 
  • Research and disseminate innovative ideas and validated methods for safe and secure workplace practices; 
  • Provide occupational health services to FDA employees in a timely manner; 
  • Support high-quality (i.e., accurate, reliable, and timely) FDA laboratory results; and 
  • Promote a culture of shared responsibility and safety. 

Functions 

  • Provides direction and oversees the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) environmental and occupational safety and health program activities and operations.
  • Establishes, develops, implements, and evaluates environmental and occupational safety and health-related program plans, policies, and procedures, and provides training and outreach, designed to create and maintain a safe and healthful workplace for FDA employees, visitors, and guest workers.  
  • Manages operations for FDA Occupational Health Services (OHS), which also includes the immunization programs (influenza, travel-related, and occupational-related), medical surveillance and clearance programs, ergonomics program, and the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program.  
  • Promotes a culture of responsibility and safety to continuously improve and enhance the practice of good and safe workplace and laboratory practices.  
  • Determines the appropriate programmatic environmental and occupational safety and health improvements to facilitate compliance with relevant laws and regulations, Health and Human Services (HHS) policy, and FDA needs.  
  • Coordinates and supports the implementation of laboratory quality management systems across the FDA.  
  • Provides representation on intra- and inter-agency committees, workgroups, and task forces related to occupational safety and health program activities and environmental management programs.  
  • Funds appropriate applied research in support of program objectives (subject to funding availability).  
  • Provides leadership support during emergency situations, particularly with incidents originating in the laboratory, and occupant emergency planning support, in coordination with other FDA components.   
  • Carries out these activities in collaboration with FDA Centers and Offices as appropriate. 

Resources



Back to Top