Occupational Respiratory Disease Surveillance

State-based surveillance forms a critical part of the overall NIOSH program of occupational respiratory disease surveillance. State-based surveillance programs are in a unique position to assist DRDS and NIOSH in understanding occupational respiratory disease and linking surveillance to practice at the state and local level. State-based surveillance data on silicosis and work-related asthma (WRA), including that collected under the Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks (SENSOR) Program, have contributed to NIOSH epidemiological research, have been used to support various prevention activities and products, and have been used to inform science-based policy. In conjunction with our state partners, the DRDS State-based Surveillance Program has produced over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles and more than 300 different pieces of educational material.

Previously, NIOSH supported states under a number of different cooperative agreements, including SENSOR. Currently, NIOSH funds the State-Based Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance cooperative agreement (Office of Extramural Programs (OEP), ANNOUNCEMENT NO. PAR-04-106). All states funded under this cooperative agreement conduct population-based surveillance for pneumoconiosis (hospitalizations and mortality). While most carry out “Fundamental” pneumoconiosis surveillance, some are also funded to carry out case-based or “Expanded” sentinel surveillance focused specifically on silicosis and/or work-related asthma (WRA).

Contents

• State-Based Surveillance Programs. Contact information for state WRA, Silicosis, and Fundamental surveillance programs.
• Work-Related Asthma (WRA). Information on work-related asthma state programs, including State Reporting Guidelines, Surveillance Case Definition, WRA Surveillance Categories, and Surveillance Case Classification Criteria.
• Silicosis. Information on state programs, including State Reporting Guidelines, and Surveillance Case Definition.
• Related NIOSH Topics
• Other Resources Related to State-Based Surveillance

Related NIOSH Topics

Asthma and Allergies, a NIOSH workplace safety and health topic. Includes a link to a searchable database of journal articles describing OA prevention studies.

NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Program

Pneumoconiosis, a NIOSH workplace safety and health topic.

Silica, a NIOSH workplace safety and health topic.

Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report, Section 9, Work-Related Asthma: SENSOR

Other Resources Related to State-Based Surveillance

The links to external web sites included below are provided for informational purposes only. Citation should not be taken as endorsement by NIOSH of the web site content nor of the sponsoring organization.

Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Program of the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)
External link: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/default.htm
NCEH leads CDC's fight against environmental-related respiratory illnesses, including asthma, and studies indoor and outdoor air pollution.

Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC)
External link: http://www.aoec.org
The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC) is a network of more than 60 clinics committed to improving the practice of occupational and environmental medicine through information sharing and collaborative research.

Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)
External link: http://www.cste.org
CTSE is a professional association of over 1,000 public health epidemiologists working in states, local health agencies, and territories. CSTE members have surveillance and epidemiology expertise in a broad range of areas, including Occupational Health. Pertinent Occupational Health publications (external link) are available.