Cal/OSHA Standards Board Considers Subcommittee in Response to NIOSH Cuts
The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) is considering the formation of a subcommittee to tackle challenges arising from the dismantling of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). During the OSHSB meeting on April 17, 2025 , board members discussed reports of significant layoffs within NIOSH due to federal government budget cuts. These cuts would “eliminate 92% of the NIOSH’s workforce,” effectively leading to a shutdown of the agency. Earlier this month, NIOSH was hit with even more layoffs. NIOSH conducts occupational safety and health research, recommends safety standards, and provides training and educational resources. The near elimination of NIOSH is expected to disrupt these essential services and create a gap, particularly affecting the c ertification of personal protective equipment (PPE) . Federal regulations require the use of NIOSH-approved respirators and mandate certain comprehensive respiratory protection pr...