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Background
Asthma has increased at an alarming rate in the U.S. and in California in the last decade.
Work-related asthma has also increased, and it is estimated that workplace
exposures
 are responsible for 15% of all asthma cases among adults in the U.S.
Work-related asthma includes new cases caused by exposures at work, as well as
asthma that is made worse by conditions at work. To help address work-related
asthma, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
provides funding to California, Michigan, Massachusetts, and New
Jersey to collect data and develop prevention strategies.
Purpose
The California asthma program aims
to identify industries, occupations and exposures that put workers at risk
for work-related asthma. By identifying and understanding the risk
factors, we can find new ways to help employers and workers prevent
work-related asthma.
Activities
To achieve these goals, the California asthma program:
- Collects data using Doctor’s First Reports of Occupational Injury or
Illness to identify cases;
- Performs telephone interviews in order to confirm and classify cases,
as well as to gather more detailed information about occupational and non-occupational risk
factors;
- Carries out worksite investigations to identify risk
factors and make recommendations for prevention;
- Develops and distributes findings, recommendations,
and health education materials to employers, employees, unions, trade organizations,
public health professionals, and others; and
- Works with NIOSH and other states that study asthma to combine data and maximize
prevention efforts.
Occupational Health Surveillance and Evaluation Program (OHSEP) home page
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