Georgia Occupational Health Surveillance System

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bayakly AR
• Description:
  This project continued the development of a Fundamental Surveillance Program for occupational health and safety in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Occupational Health Surveillance Program (GA-OHS) monitors occupational injuries, illnesses, fatalities, and hazards among workers statewide, identifies groups at increased risk, and provides data to focus prevention efforts. Specifically, the program's major aims proposed under CDC NIOSH PAR-14-275 were to: 1) Maintain, collect, analyze, interpret, and disseminate data on the 22 occupational health indicators in Georgia; 2) Conduct follow-back and intervention activities for cases of elevated adult blood lead among adults reported to the Department of Public Health; 3) Conduct a statewide Worksite Wellness Survey of medium-sized businesses (defined as worksites with 100-249 employees); and, 4) Maintain an Advisory Committee representing partner organizations and stakeholders to guide priorities for surveillance. GA-OHS systematically collected, analyzed, interpreted, and disseminated data on all the occupational health indicators (OHIs) recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE). The surveillance data were summarized in reports and data summaries that were shared with stakeholders and published on DPH website. GA-OHS leveraged the use of both existing and non-traditional data sources, including the Georgia Violent Death Reporting System and the Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. These data sources contributed to state and local prevention efforts and added to national data regarding the magnitude and trends related to occupational health morbidity and mortality. Additionally, GA-OHS conducted surveillance for two state-specific indicators, secondhand smoke exposure and arthritis among employees. A new Adult Blood Lead Reduction Alliance agreement was formed between DPH, GA Tech OSHA Consultation Program, and Region IV OSHA to develop educational materials and provide training and resources for workers and employers. GA-OHS disseminated lead exposure educational resources to workers and employers. The results from the 2016-2017 Georgia Worksite Wellness Survey were used to document the existing policies and environments affecting physical activity, nutrition, injuries, health screenings, and tobacco among Georgia worksites. Educational outreach was provided to employers across the state, encouraging workplace policies that support total worker health. GA-OHS met regularly with the established OH Advisory Committee, comprised of representatives from key partner and stakeholder organizations and agencies. On-going collaborations with internal and external partners, such as DPH Environmental Health, the Georgia Poison Center, and DPH Worksite Health Initiative, was key to GA-OHS success. The primary goal of GA-OHS was to establish a fundamental surveillance system for occupational health and safety, provide timely and ongoing data on all the OHIs, and use these data as the basis to inform partners, stakeholders, policymakers, and the public about leading causes of morbidity and mortality from occupational injuries and illnesses in Georgia. GA-OHS was successful in achieving its primary goal and greatly enhanced Georgia's capabilities to analyze traditional and non-traditional data sources to further advance worker safety and health. These efforts increased awareness regarding occupational health and safety issues and informed Georgia's public health programs and scientific community on occupational health issues and priorities. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Epidemiology Health Promotion Morbidity Mortality Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Blood Lead Levels Health Promotion Medical Screening Morbidity Rates Mortality Data Occupational Health Programs Statistical Analysis Surveillance Programs
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Final Cooperative Agreement Report
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-28
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066485
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U60-OH-010908, 2021 Sep; :1-28
• Contact Point Address:
  A Rana Bayakly, MPH, Georgia Department of Public Health, 2 Peachtree Street, NW 14th Floor, Suite 14-440, Atlanta, Georgia 30303
• Email:
  Rana.Bayakly@dph.ga.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• Performing Organization:
  Georgia State Department of Public Health, Atlanta
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20150701
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bdd9d5139a36d84b26cdb5394311cf67c7ac4e2f85c60fabf53eeefb83c4fdd855e132d650f2740fdf6b2559b65c6a4104b4b96183cfde93506e8db99b84b82c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/219161/cdc_219161_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 696.18 KB ]