# NIOSH Division of Technical Services > former division of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health **Wikidata**: [Q123344694](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123344694) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/niosh-division-of-technical-services ## Summary The NIOSH Division of Technical Services (DTS) was a former division of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health that operated from 1971 to 1982. It underwent several name changes during its existence, including Office of Technical Publications (OTP) and Division of Occupational Health Programs (DOHP), before being replaced by the NIOSH Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer. ## Key Facts - **Inception:** 1971 - **Dissolution:** 1982 - **Parent Organization:** National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) - **Replaced By:** NIOSH Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer - **Official Names:** - Division of Technical Services (1975–1982) - Office of Technical Publications (until 1975) - Division of Occupational Health Programs (until 1975) - **Aliases:** DTS, OTP, DOHP - **Classification:** Division, government agency - **Country:** United States ## FAQs **What was the NIOSH Division of Technical Services?** The NIOSH Division of Technical Services was a division of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health that operated from 1971 to 1982, providing technical services and support for occupational health programs. **What organizations was the NIOSH Division of Technical Services part of?** The division was part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is a U.S. federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for preventing work-related injury and illness. **When was the NIOSH Division of Technical Services active?** The division was established in 1971 and was dissolved in 1982, having operated for approximately 11 years. **What was the NIOSH Division of Technical Services replaced by?** The division was replaced by the NIOSH Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer. **What different names did this division use?** The division operated under several names throughout its existence: Division of Technical Services (DTS), Office of Technical Publications (OTP), and Division of Occupational Health Programs (DOHP). ## Why It Matters The NIOSH Division of Technical Services played a critical role in the early years of occupational safety and health research in the United States. During its operation from 1971 to 1982, the division contributed to the establishment of technical standards and publications that helped shape workplace safety practices. As part of NIOSH, which was established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the division helped bridge the gap between research findings and practical workplace applications. Its work in technical publications and occupational health programs helped disseminate crucial safety information to employers and workers across the country. The division's reorganization into the Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer in 1982 reflected the evolving needs of occupational safety research and the growing emphasis on standards development as a core function of the institute. ## Notable For - One of the original divisions established within NIOSH following its creation in 1970 - Operated under three different official names during its 11-year existence - Contributed to the early development of occupational health technical standards and publications - Part of the U.S. federal government's response to workplace safety concerns in the 1970s and early 1980s ## Body ### History and Establishment The NIOSH Division of Technical Services was established in 1971 as part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which itself was created by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The division emerged during a period of heightened federal attention to workplace safety in the United States. During its early years, the division operated under the names Office of Technical Publications (OTP) and Division of Occupational Health Programs (DOHP), reflecting the broad scope of its responsibilities in technical dissemination and occupational health coordination. ### Organizational Structure and Naming The division underwent a significant reorganization in 1975 when it was officially renamed the Division of Technical Services (DTS). This change marked a consolidation of its functions under a more unified identity. The 1975 renaming coincided with the formal establishment of its official name, Division of Technical Services, which would remain in effect until the division's dissolution in 1982. Throughout its existence, the division maintained close ties to its parent organization, NIOSH, which is itself part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) family of agencies. ### Functions and Operations As a technical services division, the organization was responsible for producing and disseminating technical publications related to occupational safety and health. The Office of Technical Publications function handled the creation and distribution of research findings, safety guidelines, and technical recommendations. The Division of Occupational Health Programs aspect focused on coordinating occupational health initiatives and programs. These combined functions made the division a critical link between NIOSH research and its practical application in workplaces across American industries. ### Dissolution and Succession The division was dissolved in 1982 and replaced by the NIOSH Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer. This transition reflected a strategic shift in NIOSH's organizational structure, emphasizing standards development as a primary mechanism for translating research into workplace safety practices. The successor division inherited the mission of developing and disseminating occupational safety and health standards while expanding the technology transfer function to better facilitate the adoption of research findings by industry and labor organizations. ### Classification and Context The NIOSH Division of Technical Services was classified as both a division and a government agency, consistent with its role as an organizational component of the federal government's occupational safety and health apparatus. Its existence during the 1970s and early 1980s placed it at the center of the early implementation of federal occupational safety regulations, contributing to the foundational infrastructure of workplace safety research and dissemination that continues to influence occupational health practices today. ## 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)