# NIOSH Western States Division

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

**Wikidata**: [Q123344460](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123344460)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/niosh-western-states-division

## Summary
The NIOSH Western States Division (WSD) is a division of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Functioning as a government agency, it is an organizational part of the United States government responsible for specific public services. Prior to 2015, the entity was officially known as the Western States Office (WSO).

## Key Facts
- The NIOSH Western States Division is a division of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
- It is classified as a government agency.
- Its official name has been "Western States Division" since 2015.
- Prior to 2015, the organization was officially named the "Western States Office."
- The division is also known by the abbreviations WSD and WSO.
- The entity is explicitly different from the NIOSH Western Area Laboratory for Occupational Safety and Health.
- The 2015 name change was established in a Federal Register document titled "Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority."
- The history of the organization is also documented in the CDC NIOSH Science Blog.

## FAQs
**What is the NIOSH Western States Division?**
The NIOSH Western States Division is a government agency functioning as a division of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It operates as an organizational part of the U.S. government.

**What was the previous name of the Western States Division?**
Before 2015, the entity was officially named the Western States Office. This name was retired in 2015 when it was renamed the Western States Division.

**Is the Western States Division the same as the NIOSH Western Area Laboratory?**
No, the NIOSH Western States Division is distinct and different from the NIOSH Western Area Laboratory for Occupational Safety and Health.

**What abbreviations are associated with this organization?**
The organization utilizes the abbreviations WSD, which corresponds to its current name, and WSO, which corresponds to its former name.

## Why It Matters
As a component of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Western States Division represents a specialized structural element within the United States government's public health and safety framework. Its re-designation from an "Office" to a "Division" in 2015 marks a distinct organizational evolution documented in the Federal Register, suggesting a potential expansion or formalization of its role within the federal hierarchy. It exists as a distinct operational entity separate from laboratory functions, specifically the NIOSH Western Area Laboratory for Occupational Safety and Health.

## Notable For
- Serving as a specific regional/organizational division of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
- An official name transition from Western States Office to Western States Division in 2015.
- Being a distinct entity from the NIOSH Western Area Laboratory for Occupational Safety and Health.
- Having its organizational functions and delegations of authority formally recorded in the Federal Register.

## Body

### Organizational Classification and Parent Structure
The NIOSH Western States Division operates as a government agency. As an organizational part of a government, its function relates to specific public services. The division is a direct subordinate part of its parent organization, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

### Nomenclature and History
The organization has utilized specific official names during its history, marked by a distinct transition in 2015:
- **Western States Office (WSO):** This was the official name of the entity prior to 2015. The use of this name ended in 2015.
- **Western States Division (WSD):** Starting in 2015, the organization adopted this as its new official name. This change is referenced in the CDC NIOSH Science Blog entry dated October 27, 2021.

### Federal Documentation
The official record of the organization's structure and status is documented in the Federal Register. A publication on March 11, 2015 (Document ID 2015-05552), titled "Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority," serves as a formal reference for the 2015 transition to the Western States Division.

### Distinct Entities
The Western States Division is not affiliated with or the same as the NIOSH Western Area Laboratory for Occupational Safety and Health. The two are separate entities within the broader NIOSH structure.

## References

1. [Source](https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2021/10/27/niosh-ak/)
2. [Source](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/03/11/2015-05552/statement-of-organization-functions-and-delegations-of-authority)