The Cost Effectiveness of Occupational Health Interventions: Prevention of Silicosis

Details

• Personal Author:
  Lahiri S ; Levenstein C ; Nelson DI ; Rosenberg BJ
• Description:
  The failure to recognize occupational health as an economic phenomenon limits the effectiveness of interventions ostensibly designed to prevent disease and injury. Hence, consideration of economic efficiency is essential in the evaluations of interventions to reduce hazardous working conditions. In this paper, we present an analysis of the cost effectiveness of alternative means of preventing silicosis. To evaluate the cost effectiveness of specific interventions for the prevention of occupationally induced silicosis, we have used the simulation models based on the generalized cost-effectiveness analysis (GCEA) developed by the WHO-CHOICE initiative for two representative subregions namely AMROA (Canada, United States of America), and WPROB1 (China, Korea, Mongolia). In both of the two subregions, engineering controls are the most cost effective with ratios varying from 105.89 dollars per healthy year or disability adjusted life year saved in AMROA to approximately 109 dollars in WPROB1. In the two subregions, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of engineering controls (EC) looks most attractive. Although dust masks (DM) look attractive in terms of cost, the total efficacy is extremely limited. To the extent that this analysis can be generalized across other subregions, it suggests that engineering control programs would be cost effective in both developed and developing countries for reducing silica exposure to save lives. Note that this analysis understates health benefits since only silicosis and not all silica-related diseases are considered. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aluminum Silicates Engineering Occupational Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Silicon Dioxide
• Keywords:
  Disease-prevention Engineering-controls Injuries Models Occupational-diseases Occupational-exposure Occupational-hazards Occupational-health Silica-dusts Silicates Silicosis Simulation-methods

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  48
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20029707
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2005 Dec; 48(6):503-514
• Contact Point Address:
  Supriya Lahiri, Department of Economics, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Falmouth Hall 302D, One University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854
• Email:
  Supriya.Lahiri@uml.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Silica (CAS RN 7631-86-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2006
• Performing Organization:
  Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20000801
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20030731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:af20d340236922001859b89d9c809a03e3452caf6746d13b9c172bcc397e1b8083d38ad1f127b1a2f1abb80b846b2b53015d857a08c21d18ae048b7a8d2e731d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/190633/cdc_190633_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 142.58 KB ]