The major objective of the NIOSH-supported Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Center (ERC) at the University of Cincinnati is to provide interdisciplinary programs for professional and scientific training in the major fields of Occupational Safety and Health and related disciplines. While the major thrust of each program is specialized education at the graduate training level, there is a well-developed research and Continuing Education and Outreach effort in each of the core areas. The administrative component of the Center is located in the Department of Environmental Health. An Internal Advisory Committee consists of the Director, Deputy Director, and each of the Program Directors. An External Advisory Committee consists of appropriate representatives from each of the five program areas as well as a representative from labor. Training and research facilities are available for all aspects of the proposed training and are presented in the detailed description.

Since its inception the Cincinnati Education and Research Center (ERC) has provided education, research, community service and consultation to workers, employers and citizens drawn from a catchments area including much of the Midwestern United States and frequently extending to other regions of the U.S. as well as to many other countries. The ERC  at the University of Cincinnati has a full complement of Core Programs: Occupational Medicine, Occupational Health Nursing, Environmental and Occupational Hygiene and Occupational Safety and Health Engineering. In addition we have component programs in Hazardous Substance Academic Training and Biomonitoring. All educational units provide curricula not only for their own graduate students but contribute significantly to the teaching and research experiences of students in the other programs. This interdisciplinary aspect of the ERC is the keystone of productive occupational and environmental health education, research and service.