NIOSH Program Portfolio : Surveillance : Program Description

NIOSH Programs > Surveillance > Program Description

Surveillance

Program Description

What Is Surveillance?

Public health surveillance is the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practices, closely integrated with the timely dissemination of these data to those who need to know. The final link in the surveillance chain requires the application of these data to prevention and control. A surveillance system includes a functional capacity for data collection, analysis, and dissemination linked to public health programs.

NIOSH Surveillance

Tracking occupational injuries, illnesses, and hazards has been an integral part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) since its creation by the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970. In collaboration with its many partners, NIOSH has established surveillance programs to help describe the magnitude of occupational hazards, diseases, and injuries in the United States. These surveillance activities document the nation's progress in reducing the burden of work-related diseases and injuries. They have also identified many old and new problems that require additional research and prevention efforts. Despite these accomplishments, occupational health surveillance in the United States remains fragmented, with substantial data gaps.

Data and information derived from surveillance can be used to:

Guide immediate action for cases of public health importance
Measure the burden of an injury or disease (or other health-related event or exposure), including changes in related factors, the identification of populations at high risk, and the identification of new or emerging health concerns
Guide the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs to prevent and control injuries, disease, or adverse exposures
Evaluate public policy
Detect changes in health practices and the effects of the changes
Prioritize the allocation of health resources
Describe the clinical course of disease
Provide a basis for epidemiologic research

Program Description | Population and Labor Statistics >

NIOSH Program:

Surveillance

Program Description

Inputs

Activities

Outputs

Outcomes

Review & Evaluation

	NIOSH Programs > Surveillance > Program Description Surveillance Program Description What Is Surveillance? Public health surveillance is the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practices, closely integrated with the timely dissemination of these data to those who need to know. The final link in the surveillance chain requires the application of these data to prevention and control. A surveillance system includes a functional capacity for data collection, analysis, and dissemination linked to public health programs. NIOSH Surveillance Tracking occupational injuries, illnesses, and hazards has been an integral part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) since its creation by the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970. In collaboration with its many partners, NIOSH has established surveillance programs to help describe the magnitude of occupational hazards, diseases, and injuries in the United States. These surveillance activities document the nation's progress in reducing the burden of work-related diseases and injuries. They have also identified many old and new problems that require additional research and prevention efforts. Despite these accomplishments, occupational health surveillance in the United States remains fragmented, with substantial data gaps. Data and information derived from surveillance can be used to: Guide immediate action for cases of public health importance Measure the burden of an injury or disease (or other health-related event or exposure), including changes in related factors, the identification of populations at high risk, and the identification of new or emerging health concerns Guide the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs to prevent and control injuries, disease, or adverse exposures Evaluate public policy Detect changes in health practices and the effects of the changes Prioritize the allocation of health resources Describe the clinical course of disease Provide a basis for epidemiologic research Program Description \| Population and Labor Statistics >				NIOSH Program: Surveillance Program Description Inputs Population and Labor Statistics National Research Agenda (NORA) NIOSH Strategic Goals Partners NIOSH Contacts Activities NIOSH Research Projects NIOSH Funded Research Grants Outputs Injury, Illness, Mortality and Exposure Data Publications Topic Pages Conferences Outcomes Review & Evaluation Program Review National Academies Evaluation
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