# NIOSH Division of Criteria Documentation and Standards Development

> former division of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

**Wikidata**: [Q123344693](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123344693)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/niosh-division-of-criteria-documentation-and-standards-development

## Summary
The NIOSH Division of Criteria Documentation and Standards Development (DCDSD) was a government agency division operating under the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Established in 1971, it was originally named the Office of Research and Standards Development (ORSD) until a reorganization in 1975. The division was dissolved in 1982 and its functions were succeeded by the NIOSH Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer.

## Key Facts
*   **Parent Organization:** National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
*   **Instance Of:** Government agency; Division.
*   **Inception:** 1971.
*   **Dissolved Date:** 1982.
*   **Official Name History:**
    *   1971–1975: Office of Research and Standards Development (ORSD).
    *   1975–1982: Division of Criteria Documentation and Standards Development (DCDSD).
*   **Successor:** NIOSH Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer.

## FAQs
**What was the NIOSH Division of Criteria Documentation and Standards Development?**
It was a structural division within the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) classified as a government agency. It operated from 1971 until its abolition in 1982.

**Did the division operate under any other names?**
Yes. Upon its inception in 1971, the entity was named the Office of Research and Standards Development (ORSD). This official title was changed to the Division of Criteria Documentation and Standards Development in 1975.

**What replaced the division after it was dissolved?**
Following its dissolution in 1982, the division was replaced by the NIOSH Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer.

## Why It Matters
As a component of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, this division represented the federal government's early organizational approach to occupational health research and regulation. The evolution of its name—from the Office of Research and Standards Development to the Division of Criteria Documentation and Standards Development—reflects a historical shift in the agency's focus toward the formalization of criteria documentation. Its eventual replacement in 1982 by the Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer further marks the modernization of NIOSH’s standard-setting capabilities.

## Notable For
*   **Organizational Evolution:** Transitioned from an "Office" to a "Division," indicating a change in scope or bureaucratic weight within NIOSH.
*   **Naming Shifts:** Its multiple official names (ORSD and DCDSD) track the changing administrative language used for safety standards development in the 1970s and early 1980s.
*   **Foundational Role:** Serving as the predecessor to the Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer.

## Body

### History and Formation
The division was created in **1971** as a component of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. As an organizational part of a government, its purpose was to manage specific public services related to occupational health and safety.

In **1975**, the entity underwent a significant reorganization. References from the Federal Register (documented on page 57703 of FR-1975-12-11) confirm that the official name was changed from the **Office of Research and Standards Development (ORSD)** to the **Division of Criteria Documentation and Standards Development (DCDSD)**.

### Dissolution and Succession
The division operated until **1982**, when it was dissolved or abolished. Following its dissolution, its responsibilities were transferred to a new entity. The designated successor was the **NIOSH Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer**, which continued the mandate of developing safety and health standards for the nation's workforce.

### Known Aliases
The division is documented in historical records under several aliases:
*   **ORSD** (acronym for the 1971–1975 name)
*   **Office of Research and Standards Development**
*   **DCDSD** (acronym for the 1975–1982 name)
*   **Division of Criteria Documentation and Standards Development**

## References

1. [Source](https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/R111CKd87twC?gbpv=1&pg=PA106)
2. [Federal Register](https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-1975-12-11)