Occupational health indicators in Colorado: a baseline health assessment (2001-2005)

Details

• Personal Author:
  Mulloy KB ; Newman L ; Sackett H
• Description:
  The Mountain and Plains Education and Research Center (MAP ERC), in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has prepared this report to describe the baseline health status of workers in Colorado (CO). The overall purpose of this assessment is to provide the state of CO with the data and information needed to examine the merits of conducting state-wide occupational health surveillance, and to determine priorities for workplace prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses. A significant gap in data and need for workplace health surveillance in CO is non-fatal work-related injuries and illness. CO is one of seven states that does not participate in the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII). The SOII collects data on non-fatal work-related injuries and illnesses reported by employers. These data are helpful in describing the burden of injuries and illnesses that occur in the workplace. In addition, CO is one of 10 states that does not participate in the Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) program. The ABLES program is a state-based surveillance program of laboratory-reported adult blood lead levels. The program objective is to build state capacity to initiate, expand, or improve adult blood lead surveillance programs to accurately trend adult lead levels related to work exposures and can help guide effective interventions. Priorities and future directions for prevention and intervention should focus on industries and occupations experiencing a disproportional rate of fatal work-related injuries and illnesses. For the years 2001 to 2005, rates of work-related fatalities in CO were higher than overall US rates (average annual rate for the 5 years for CO was 5.2 vs. US at 4.1). The percent of workers employed in industries and occupations at high risk for occupational mortality was higher than US rate. Being able to accurately characterize the type of risks that are associated with these industries and occupations is a first step in planning intervention for prevention. The rate of work-related pesticide poisonings in CO as reported to the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center has ranged from 1.6 to 2.6 per 100,000 workers per year for the years 2001 to 2005. On average, rates in CO were higher compared to overall US rates which have remained stable at 1.8 from 2001 to 2005. This number may underreport the true problem as many cases of work related pesticide poisoning may not be captured by the Poison Control Center. The CO agricultural workforce has limited access to healthcare and occupational health and safety professionals and needs a better surveillance system to help characterize the problem accurately to guide intervention prevention measures. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Economics Environmental Exposure Insecticides Lead Occupational Health Poisoning Preventive Medicine Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Blood Chemistry Exposure Levels Health Care Health Effects Injuries Pesticides Poisons Preventive Medicine Risk Factors Sociological Factors Surveillance Surveillance Programs Work Environment Workers

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• Publisher:
  University of Colorado
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-53
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20047863
• Citation:
  Denver, CO: University of Colorado, 2008 Oct; :1-53
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2009
• Performing Organization:
  University of Colorado, Denver
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20070701
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational health indicators in Colorado: a baseline health assessment (2001-2005)
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2c73366b2f698c5dea4b8d88a37a90553bfaefda96f91bac18bdaa3409c17d73747827115624a6ac7a55504bb283d293ee203ed244a62e1944e6c477f097f27d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/202820/cdc_202820_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 174.10 KB ]