Response from Frazier, et al.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Frazier, Todd M. ; Mullan R ; Sestito, John P. ; Whorton MD
• Description:
  The usefulness of death certificates in occupational mortality studies is discussed. It is asserted that occupational and industry data obtained from death certificates do not in general permit a direct inference about disease and workplace health hazards, nor should such information be used as a basis for a national health surveillance program. Quantifying and studying socioeconomic indicators of mortality has played a significant role in the past 100 years in identifying and controlling infectious diseases. It is noted that the decline of infectious diseases as a principal cause of mortality during this period was paralleled by increases in heart and respiratory diseases and cancer. Today, debate centers on lifestyle and occupational factors and the extent to which these factors contribute to the development of these disease processes. The decision by NIOSH, the Bureau of the Census, and the National Center for Health Statistics to code decedent industry and occupational information routinely is considered to be sound and cost effective. The value of these efforts, however, is no better than the quality of the data on which they are based. It is concluded that it is very important that the individual obtaining such information (usually the funeral director) be aware of the need for accurately and completely recording the decedent's usual occupation and industry. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Epidemiology Hazardous Substances Mortality Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Data-processing Disease-incidence Health-hazards Humans Industrial-exposures Information-processing Mortality-rates Mortality-surveys NIOSH-Author
• ISSN:
  0090-0036
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  74
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00168046
• Citation:
  Am J Public Health 1984 Jun; 74(6):622
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1984
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Public Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:36654e13b5c2610453b5d8dafd36bfbcf6d6df3d4f30e8ea5b32627a184c4d4818d83b2f026c6e9c3857caa61290a10c416ee8aa1b8c3d96b415dfea98c2bc0e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/185168/cdc_185168_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 456.43 KB ]