Framework for the Review of Research Programs of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - Agriculture Forestry and Fishing Research at NIOSH - page 235

III.A.2. Considerations for Discussion
Some external factors may involve constraints on research activity related to
target populations, methodological issues, and resource availability. For example,
evaluators might examine whether

• Projects addressing a critical health need are technologically feasible.

A workforce with appropriate size and duration, magnitude, and dis-
tribution of exposure for measuring a health effect may not exist. For
example, no population of workers has been exposed for 30 years to
formaldehyde at the current OSHA Permissible Exposure Level (PEL),
so the related cancer mortality can not yet be directly assessed.

• Research is inhibited because NIOSH investigators are unable to access

an adequate study population. Under current policy, NIOSH must ei-
ther obtain an invitation by management to study a workplace or seek
a judicial order to provide authority to enter a worksite. (Cooperation
under court order may well be insufficient for effective research.)

• Research is inhibited because the work environment, materials, and

historical records cannot be accessed even with management and
workforce cooperation.

• Adequate or established methods do not exist for assessing the

environment.

• Records needed for historical-exposure reconstruction cannot be ac-

cessed or do not exist.

• Intervention research is inhibited because an appropriate employer

partner cannot be identified to institute the intervention.

• The NIOSH contribution to a certain area of research is reduced be-

cause other institutions are working in the same area.

• NIOSH resources are inadequate to tackle the key questions.

Evaluation of the impact of NIOSH research outputs on outcomes may require
consideration of external factors that might have impeded or aided implementa-
tion, measurement, and so on. For example, evaluators might consider whether

• Regulatory end points are unachievable because of obstacles to regu-

lation or differing priorities of the regulatory agencies. For example,
recommendations for improved respiratory protection programs for
health-care workers might not be implemented because of enforce-
ment policies or lack of acceptance by the administration of health-
care institutions.

• A feasible control for a known risk factor or exposure is not im-