Since 1973, the United
Auto Workers (UAW), International Union has developed several systems
to monitor mortality. This presentation will highlight two of those
systems.Sylvia E. Johnson, Ph.D.
Since 1973, the United
Auto Workers (UAW), International Union has developed several systems
to monitor mortality. This presentation will highlight two of those
systems.
The UAW fatality database was developed by the Health and Safety Department in 1973. The fatality database tracks occupational fatalities from traumatic injury among members of UAW represented bargaining units. Some 464 fatalities have been reported. For each registered case, information on job title, incident date, job status, job classification, sector, contact that caused death, initial contact, and task being performed prior to death is included in the database. Proportional analyses of the database have identified equipment maintenance, falls and powered material handling activities as major causes of death. Highest risk job classifications are skilled trades, production service and material handling. This data supported collectively bargained programs for focused training and abatement and OSHA standards for energy lockout and confined space entry. Reduced mortality resulted.
The second part of the discussion will focus on the General Motors Mortality Registry. Observed increased in cancer mortality among UAW represented bargaining units spurred a UAW cancer response program, launched in 1980. A joint research fund was negotiated in 1984. Research projects funded through joint funds are jointly implemented, monitored, and evaluated. A peer review group, the Occupational Health Advisory Board assists the UAW-GM-Delphi National Joint Committee on Safety and Health. The Mortality Registry provides ongoing epidemiologic mortality surveillance of active and retired workers. The Mortality Registry collects death certificates and job histories of deceased current and retired GM and Delphi employees. Currently, there are more than 160,000 cases in the Registry, with approximately 12,000 new deaths cases being added annually. Periodically, proportional mortality ratio analyses identify clusters of specific causes of death and launch investigation of unusual patterns. Research spurred by this program supported the UAW petition for an OSHA standard for metalworking fluids, and for targeted mortality studies.
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NOTE: This document is provided for historical purposes only.