State-Based Occupational Respiratory Disease Surveillance

State-Based Occupational Respiratory Disease Surveillance

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State-based surveillance forms a critical part of the overall NIOSH program of occupational respiratory disease surveillance. State-based surveillance programs assist NIOSH in understanding occupational respiratory disease and linking surveillance to practice at the state and local level. State-based surveillance data on silicosis and work-related asthma (WRA), including data collected under the Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks (SENSOR) Program,  contribute to NIOSH epidemiological research. These data are also used to support  prevention activities and have been used to inform science-based policy.

Previously, NIOSH supported states under different cooperative agreements including SENSOR. Currently, NIOSH funds the State-Based Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance cooperative agreement (Announcement No. PAR-20-312). All states funded under this cooperative agreement conduct population-based surveillance for pneumoconiosis (hospitalizations and mortality) and work-related asthma. Some states are also funded to carry out case-based or “expanded” sentinel surveillance focused specifically on occupational respiratory diseases, such as work-related asthma and silicosis.