National Institute of Occupational Health
The National Institute of Occupational Health is a research institute contributing to the increased knowledge and practical
applications of occupational health based on biomedical and natural sciences.
The Institutes professional staff includes scientists with broad experience in occupational medicine, industrial hygiene,
chemistry, toxicology, physiology and psychology. The Institute has 110 employees organized in seven departments:
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology
- Department of National Surveillance of Working Environment and Health
- Department of Organisational and Psychosocial Factors at Work
- Department of Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Department of Chemical and Biological Working Environment
- Dept. of Chemical and Biological Working Environment
- Department of Communication
- Department of Administration
The Institutes is organized in the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion as an integrated part of the national system for
protection of workers. The Institute collaborates with government agencies, workers- and employers organizations.
Even more important is the contact with Norwegian industry and other small or large enterprises, and with occupational health
services.
Through cooperation in research and service at national and international levels the Institute contributes to the advancement
of knowledge of health risks in working life.
The Institute has three main goals:
- Create knowledge about the connection between work, illness, and health
- Inform nationally about knowledge concerning occupational health
- Monitor occupational health factors, evaluate risk factors, and suggest preventive measures
The activities at the Institute covers many areas of the comprehensive spectrum of occupational health, some specialities are of particular interest. These include:
- diagnosis of work related disease and illness with concomitant investigation of the working environment
- chemicals in the environment, and their effect on the human organism
- the effects of psychological stressors and mechanical load on the musculo-skeletal system
- the association between heredity, and environment for the incidence of cancer