NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Program

Key points

  • The NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) program is a free service that evaluates U.S. workplaces for health hazards.
  • Employees, employers, and union officials can request a HHE if they suspect workplace exposures or conditions are harming employees' health.
  • HHEs recommend ways to reduce health hazards and prevent work-related illness and injury.
HHE Health Hazard Evaluation Program registered logo

Overview

The NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) program helps employees, employers, and unions recognize and control health hazards in their workplace. HHE staff have experience with many types of hazards, including:

  • Physical agents such as heat, noise, and radiation
  • Biological agents such as mold and anthrax
  • Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and influenza
  • Chemicals such as solvents, metals, and particulates
  • Musculoskeletal stressors
  • Psychosocial issues such as work stress

Evaluations are done at no cost to the requestor or workplace. After an evaluation is complete, NIOSH will provide recommendations on ways to reduce or eliminate identified hazards. NIOSH does not enforce workplace health and safety standards.

Request a HHE

Request a free HHE

Employees, employers, and union representatives can request an evaluation of potential health hazards in their workplace.
Request a Health Hazard Evaluation

Reports and publications

HHE reports

For on-site evaluations, findings are published online (without company or employee names) in a NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Report.

Keep Reading

Annual program reports

HHE annual reports include summaries of interesting projects and other highlights of our year.

Exposure databases

The provides researchers and other interested parties with noise measurement results collected during HHE surveys from 1996–2012. It contains workplace noise measurement results from 73 HHE reports, including over 761 personal noise exposure measurements and 536 area noise measurements. For reports posted online, the database provides a direct link to the HHE report for each of the noise measurement results.

Related laws and regulations

  • Health Hazard Evaluation Authority in Federal Agency Workplaces
  • Health Hazard Evaluation Regulations
  • Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
  • Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 ( and )

Contacts

For questions about any hazard or illness: 513-841-4382

For questions about respiratory illness: 304-285-5751

Toll-free information service: 1-800-ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø-INFO (800-232-4636)

513-841-4488 or 304-282-5820

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance Branch, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, Mail Stop R-9, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226-1988

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Content Source:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health