Module Components

• Overview
• Assignments

Topics

• Environmental Health Issues--Magnitude of the Problem and Prevention
• Population-based Initiatives to Reduce the Burden of Environmental Health Issues
• Occupational Health Issues--Magnitude of the Problem and Prevention
• Population-based Initiatives to Reduce the Burden of Occupational Health Issues
• Unintended Injuries and Violence—Magnitude of the Problem and Prevention
• Population-based Initiatives to Reduce the Burden of Unintended Injuries and Violence

NRSG 780 - Health Promotion and Population Health

Module 12: Environmental Health, Occupational Health, Unintended Injuries and Violence

Occupational Health Issues--Magnitude of the Problem and Prevention

Magnitude of the Problem

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is dedicated to the safety and health of the 155 million workers in the U.S. NIOSH focuses on research needed to prevent the societal cost of work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses which are estimated at $250 billion in medical costs and productivity in addition to the huge toll on workers, their families, businesses, communities and the nation’s economy.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 4764 work-related injury deaths occurred in 2020. This averages to 100 deaths a week or more than 13 deaths a day. Construction fatalities rank number one with over 21% or one in five worker deaths. The leading causes of worker deaths in construction are falls followed by struck by an object, electrocution, caught-in/between, and are referred to as the "fatal four".

The estimated annual burden of occupational disease mortality resulting from selected respiratory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure and hepatitis is 49,000, with a range of 26,000 to 72,000. When occupational disease and injury data are combined, an estimated 55,200 deaths occur annually for occupational disease or injury with a range of 32,000 to 78,200. Occupational deaths are estimated to be the 8th leading cause of death in the U.S.

Sources:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Total Fatal injuries in all sectors Available at http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/FWU00X00000080N00

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Factsheet (2015) Available at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2013-140/pdfs/2013-140.pdf

Steenland, K., Burnett, C., Lalich, N., Ward, E, & Hurrell, J. (2003). Dying for work: The magnitude of US mortality from selected causes of death associated with occupation. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 43(5), 461-82. Available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/‌12704620

U.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). Commonly use statistics. Available at https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html

Prevention

Workers spend a quarter of their lifetime and up to half of their waking lives at work or commuting. Therefore, the workplace provides a unique setting for public health action.  DHHS identifies back injuries as the leading cause of workplace disability and recommends the following basics to reduce the risk of injury or illness:

• Lift things safely
• Arrange equipment to fit and prevent repetitive motion injuries
• Take short breaks and stretch muscles
• Eat a healthy diet and stay active
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Get enough sleep
• Take steps to manage stress
• Identify health resources in the workplace

Addressing occupational safety and health is challenged by several key factors:

• Increasing diversity of the workforce resulting in some workers having increased risks of work-related diseases and injuries, particularly: racial and ethnic minorities, recent immigrants, younger and older workers, workers with genetic susceptibilities and workers with disabilities
• Workplaces are rapidly evolving as jobs in the current economy continue to shift from manufacturing to services
• Changes in the way work is organized—longer hours, compressed work weeks, shift work, reduced job security, part-time and temporary work
• New chemicals, materials, processes and equipment are being developed at an accelerating pace which poses emerging risks to worker health

OSHA is actively involved in promoting injury and illness preventions programs for the workplace. Click here for general guidance.