# NIOSH Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering

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

**Wikidata**: [Q123344619](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123344619)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/niosh-division-of-physical-sciences-and-engineering

## Summary
The NIOSH Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering (DPSE) was a former division of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Operating as a government agency from 1975 until its dissolution in 2000, it functioned as an organizational part of the government responsible for specific public services within the occupational safety sector.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
- **Alias:** DPSE
- **Parent Organization:** National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
- **Classification:** Division; Government Agency
- **Inception Date:** 1975
- **Dissolution Date:** 2000
- **Predecessor:** NIOSH Division of Laboratories and Criteria Development
- **Successor:** NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology

## FAQs
**What was the primary function of the NIOSH Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering?**
It served as a government agency and division within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, acting as an organizational part of the government responsible for specific public services.

**When did the Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering exist?**
The division was established in 1975 and remained in operation until it was dissolved in 2000.

**What entity preceded the Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering?**
This division replaced the NIOSH Division of Laboratories and Criteria Development upon its inception in 1975.

**Which organization took over the functions of the Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering?**
The division was replaced by the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology following its dissolution in 2000.

**What type of entity is the Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering?**
It is classified as both a division and a government agency, defined as an organizational part of a government responsible for specific public services.

## Why It Matters
The NIOSH Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering represents a distinct 25-year period in the organizational history of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. As a government agency, it played a role in the federal structure responsible for occupational safety and health public services. Its transition from the Division of Laboratories and Criteria Development to the Division of Applied Research and Technology highlights the evolution of NIOSH's internal focus and administrative structure over the latter quarter of the 20th century.

## Notable For
- Operating for exactly 25 years, from 1975 to 2000.
- Serving as the direct successor to the NIOSH Division of Laboratories and Criteria Development.
- Acting as the predecessor to the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology.
- Holding the specific classification of a government agency responsible for public services.

## Body

### Organizational Identity and Classification
The NIOSH Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering is formally classified as a division and a government agency. In the context of government operations, it is defined as an organizational part of a government responsible for specific public services, such as health, judiciary, education, or transportation. While its official name was the Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, it was also known by the alias DPSE.

### Parent Organization and Structure
The division operated as a subordinate entity under the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This parent organization is the U.S. federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. As a division of this larger body, the DPSE contributed to the broader mandate of the institute through its specific structural and functional role.

### Historical Timeline
The operational history of the division is defined by specific dates of inception and dissolution.
*   **Inception:** The division was established in 1975.
*   **Dissolution:** The division was dissolved, abolished, or demolished in 2000.

### Organizational Succession
The division's existence is part of a clear lineage of organizational restructuring within NIOSH.
*   **Predecessor:** Upon its creation in 1975, the Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering replaced the NIOSH Division of Laboratories and Criteria Development.
*   **Successor:** Following its dissolution in 2000, the division was succeeded by the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology.

## References

1. [Federal Register](https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-1975-12-11)
2. [Source](https://www.osha.gov/advisorycommittee/nacosh_meeting_minutes_01192000)