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Indicators for occupational health surveillance
Catherine Thomsen1, Jacquelyn McClain, Kenneth Rosenman
1Oregon Department of Human Services, Portland, Oregon, USA.
Summary
Millions of US workers face job injuries and illnesses annually, costing billions. The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) developed Occupational Health Indicators (OHIs) to improve workplace safety surveillance and prevention efforts nationwide.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health and safety surveillance.
- Public health epidemiology.
- Workplace hazard identification and control.
Background:
- Millions of US workers experience job-related injuries and illnesses yearly, incurring significant human and economic costs.
- Work-related conditions result in an estimated $170 billion in annual direct and indirect costs.
- A 1998 workgroup identified the need for enhanced national surveillance of occupational health conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the Occupational Health Indicators (OHIs) developed by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE).
- To describe CSTE's approach to creating a nationwide surveillance tool for work-related diseases, injuries, and hazards.
- To support states in building occupational health capacity and focusing prevention efforts.
Main Methods:
- Convening a work group with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in 1998.
- Developing 19 Occupational Health Indicators (OHIs) and an Employment Demographic Profile between 2001-2003.
- Compiling OHI data from 13 states in a 2005 CSTE report.
Main Results:
- The development of 19 OHIs and an Employment Demographic Profile as a standardized surveillance tool.
- OHIs are now a required component of state-based cooperative agreements funded by NIOSH.
- Data compilation from 13 states demonstrates the utility of OHIs in assessing occupational health status.
Conclusions:
- The OHIs provide essential tools for states to collect data on occupational health.
- These indicators enhance the capacity for nationwide surveillance of work-related conditions.
- The OHIs are crucial for identifying priorities and focusing prevention strategies to improve worker health and safety.
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