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The authors ask you:
The U.S. manufacturing industry employed 16,253,000 workers in 2005. The objective of this study was to assess occupational risks in the U.S. Manufacturing Industry. There are a limited number of studies of cohorts from specific manufacturing process settings. Our aim was to evaluate data from three surveillance databases to identify larger manufacturing sub sectors with elevated proportionate mortality due to cancer and other chronic disease, and to focus attention on preventable occupational disease.
Using the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance (NOMS) database, we undertook a proportionate mortality analysis of 1,161,405 white male manufacturing workers who died between 1984 and 1998 in 28 U.S. states that code industry and occupation on death certificates. Findings of significantly elevated proportionate mortality for cancer, heart disease, and other chronic disease and injury are presented. Using the National Occupational Respiratory Mortality Surveillance (NORMS) database, multiple cause respiratory disease mortality among men who died in 23 states 1990-1999 is described. Disease and injury rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) are reviewed in the context of elevated mortality in manufacturing workers.
Per BLS data, manufacturing industry cases accounted for more than 38 % of all reported occupational illnesses for private industry in 2005. Based on NOMS data, men under age 65 usually employed in manufacturing sectors experienced significant excess mortality due to cancer, heart disease, and other chronic disease and injury. NORMS data revealed occupational respiratory disease mortality was to be significantly elevated in several occupations and sub sectors. Despite lifestyle differences and other limitations of the study, the large numbers of excess deaths indicate the need for additional research and preventive action for manufacturing workers.
There were 16.2 million U.S. manufacturing workers employed in 2005. There are a limited number of studies of cohorts from specific manufacturing process settings. BLS reports are limited for chronic disease and sub sectors within manufacturing. The manufacturing industry included 21 sub sectors and 86 industry groups.
Surveillance data sources evaluated included the following:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Annual Survey 2003-2005: published data for a sample of U.S. establishments.
National Occupational Respiratory Mortality System (NORMS) for the period 1990-1999 and National Occupational Mortality Surveillance (NOMS) for the years 1984-1998.
-- two U.S. death certificate based databases with coded data for usual occupation and industry
2005 BLS rates show the manufacturing sector rates for reportable illness and injury ranked second among all industries at 6.6 cases per 100,000 full-time workers. When occupational illness alone was evaluated, manufacturing industries accounted about 38% of all illness reported by private industry in 2005.
NORMS analyses reported significantly high PMRs 1990-1999, for occupational respiratory disease in many manufacturing industries, including asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma, pneumoconiosis, and silicosis, when compared to all industries.
| Industry | Pneunoconiosis | Silicosis |
|---|---|---|
| All Manufacturing | 0 | √ |
| Misc. Mineral & Stone Prod. | √ | √ |
| Ship & Boat Building | √ | 0 |
| Pottery | √ | √ |
| Iron & Steel Foundries | √ | √ |
| Structural Clay Prod. | √ | √ |
| Industrial Chemical mfg. | √ | 0 |
| Glass and Glass Products | √ | √ |
√ = Significantly elevated PMR
0 = Non significant PMR
NOMS results showed that PMRs 1984-1998 for fatalities and work-related chronic disease were significantly higher in U.S. manufacturing workers who died before age 65. The younger workers under age 65, in U.S. transportation equipment (shown below), fabricated metal, and electronic computing equipment manufacturing industries experienced significantly elevated PMRs for many different chronic diseases and fatalities.
Limitations of death certificate data include no information on exposure at the workplace or other risk factors. Usual occupation and industry may be misclassified.
Despite limitations, NOMS data indicated that U.S. Manufacturing workers experienced significantly excess mortality due to cancer, heart and respiratory disease, and other illness and injuries, especially among workers who died before age 65. BLS data showed that the manufacturing sector ranked second in rates of reportable illness in 2005 from all private industry.
Our findings suggest a need for additional research and prevention activities in order to reduce risk factors for occupational cancer, heart disease, and other illness and injury among U.S. manufacturing employees working in a wide range of industrial settings.
We are looking forward to more consultations with internal and external sector managers and councils, i.e., the organizations and individuals who analyze mortality data and use it to help set priorities.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bulletin 2307; and Employment and Earnings, monthly, January 2007 issue. See Internet site http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm
International Classification of Diseases, Adapted, Ninth Revision. World Health Organization (WHO) Geneva 1980.
U.S. Bureau of the Census (1993): 1990 Census of Population and Housing. Alphabetical Index of Industries and Occupations. CPH-R-3PH.
The findings and conclusions in this poster are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Citations to Web sites external to NIOSH do not constitute NIOSH endorsement of the sponsoring organizations or their programs or products. Furthermore, NIOSH is not responsible for the content of these Web sites.
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