Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program

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Stored: Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program

Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program
Type Program
Sponsor Organization National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Top Organization Department of Health and Human Services
Creation Legislation Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
Website Website
Purpose Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program probes work deaths to cut risks and boost safety with reports for employers and policymakers.
Program Start 1982
Initial Funding Not publicly specified; part of NIOSH budget
Duration Ongoing
Historic No

Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program (FACE) is a research initiative led by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) within the Department of Health and Human Services, focused on preventing traumatic occupational fatalities across the United States.

The Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program investigates work-related fatalities to identify risk factors and develop prevention strategies, aiming to reduce occupational deaths nationwide, while providing detailed reports and recommendations to employers, workers, and policymakers to enhance workplace safety without enforcing compliance.

Notable aspects include its investigation of over 2,000 fatalities since 1982, its collaboration with 15 state partners for localized surveillance, and its use of the Haddon Matrix to analyze multi-factorial causes of workplace deaths, influencing safety practices in high-risk industries like construction, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Official Site

Goals

  • Identify and analyze factors contributing to workplace fatalities to formulate targeted prevention strategies.
  • Reduce occupational death rates by disseminating actionable recommendations, aiming for measurable safety improvements.
  • Enhance state-level surveillance and prevention through cooperative agreements with 15 state partners.

Organization

The Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program is managed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), specifically within its Division of Safety Research. NIOSH oversees federal fatality investigations, while state partners—health or labor departments in 15 states—conduct localized surveillance and targeted studies under cooperative agreements.

Funding comes from NIOSH’s budget within CDC and HHS appropriations, supporting staff, investigations, and outreach. The program’s leader is the Director of NIOSH, currently John Howard as of 2025.

History

FACE was launched in 1982, authorized by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, which established NIOSH to research and prevent work-related injuries. It began as a response to the need for detailed fatality data beyond OSHA’s enforcement focus, initially targeting high-risk sectors like mining and construction. Key developments include the 1990s expansion to state partnerships and the integration of the Haddon Matrix model for multifactorial analysis. The program continues to evolve, with plans to broaden state participation and enhance digital dissemination of findings.

Funding

Initial funding in 1982 was part of NIOSH’s budget under HHS appropriations, though specific amounts are not publicly detailed. Funding remains ongoing, with NIOSH allocating resources annually—estimated in the millions for FACE and related safety research—with no end date. Cooperative agreements with states provide additional support, varying by state contribution and federal matching funds.

Implementation

FACE conducts on-site investigations using the Haddon Matrix to assess pre-event, event, and post-event factors, launched in 1982 and refined over time. Federal NIOSH teams investigate priority cases, while state partners focus on regional incidents, producing reports with prevention recommendations. It operates without an end date, tied to NIOSH’s ongoing safety research mission, with findings shared via reports, alerts, and partnerships.

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