Occupational Health Surveillance in Wyoming 2001-2005

Each year, thousands of workers in Wyoming (WY) are exposed to workplace conditions that result in occupational illnesses and injuries. At present, there is no comprehensive, state-wide system in WY that provides routine data collection, analysis and the development of intervention and prevention strategies for a variety of work-related health outcomes. In recognition of the need for state-based occupational health surveillance programs, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) developed a list of occupational health indicators (OHIs) for the purpose of describing worker demographics, measures of work-related health and factors that influence worker health. Using the CSTE/NIOSH OHI framework, the Mountain and Plains Education and Research Center (MAP ERC) in collaboration with the NIOSH Western States Office, Denver, analyzed OHI data to describe the baseline health status of WY workers. The target objectives of this project were to build capacity for occupational health surveillance in WY and determine priorities for workplace prevention of injuries and illnesses. For the years 2001 to 2005, rates of work-related fatalities in WY were higher than overall US rates per 100,000 workers (average annual rate for the 5 years was 14.9 vs. 4.1, respectively). The percent of workers employed in industries and occupations at high-risk for occupational mortality was higher than national rates. Priorities and future directions for prevention and intervention should focus on industries and occupations experiencing a disproportional rate of fatal work-related injuries and illnesses.