Building occupational safety and health capacity in the western states

Occupational Health (OH) is a key component of the entire Public Health (PH) function, but many states do not have OH programs. To improve worker health nationally, there is a need to build OH surveillance capacity throughout the US. The western US, in particular, is recognized as a region with a strong need for improved OH capacity. The NIOSH Western States Office (WSO), Colorado Mountain and Plains Education and Research Center (MAPERC) and CSTE have organized two successful Western States Occupational Network (WestON) meetings bringing together PH representatives from western states with established OH programs and those interested in developing an OH program. These meetings provide a strong networking opportunity for western states to share information and work on building greater OH capacity throughout the west. One promising practice discussed at the 2009 meeting was the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's recruitment of a CDC Public Health Prevention Service fellow dedicated to OH for Colorado. With the support of the WSO and the MAPERC, she has started and/or reactivated occupational surveillance activities in Colorado. Other western states, including Nevada, continue to struggle with building state capacity in OH due to problems such as lack of resources and lack of sufficient support from federal and state government entities. With a strong national and regional support system and attention to OH as an important component of overall PH for states, it is possible to identify innovative ways to improve state OH surveillance and develop successful and sustainable state OH programs.