North Carolina Occupational Health Surveillance Program

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Project Abstract for Expanded Program in Chemical Exposure Surveillance In 2018, 2.1 million poisoning exposures were reported to US Poison Control Centers; 31,316 reports listed the reason for the call as occupational. Workplace injuries and illness caused by chemical exposures are preventable. Successful interventions to improve workplaces safety begin with having the data necessary to understand the magnitude of the problem. North Carolina uses a multipronged surveillance approach to respond to chemical releases and exposures, with an emphasis on monitoring and preventing occupational injuries. Three surveillance systems work together to monitor emergency chemical releases and exposures to two ubiquitous and harmful substances – carbon monoxide and pesticides. This data is leveraged to inform timely public health response and intervention for specific incidents. North Carolina is seeking expanded funding in surveillance of chemical exposures to: 1. Integrate chemical exposure surveillance, include acute pesticide poisonings chemical releases, and occupational carbon monoxide poisonings into a unified software platform for more effective response. 2. Increase capacity to conduct follow-back interviews and referrals for chemical exposures, including occupational carbon monoxide poisonings, pesticide poisonings. 3. Provide emergency response support and multidisciplinary occupational health consultations to protect public health and employees. 4. Maintain, develop and promote collaborative projects focused on emerging occupational health surveillance priorities with a committed network of in-state partners. 5. Work with out-of-state regional and national partners to design and promote best practices for occupational surveillance. Public health surveillance at the state levels has been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our staff have been deployed to the response since January 2020, which has delayed several of our routine surveillance activities. However, the recognition that occupation impacts health has received more national attention and public awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the lack of industry, occupation, race, and ethnicity information in many data sources has limited our ability as public health professionals to adequately respond to the pandemic, we can build on the national recognition to innovate how we monitor and improve occupational health in this county.