Occupational Health and Safety
What is occupational health and safety?
Occupational health and safety focuses on the causes of work-related injuries, illnesses, deaths, and the reduction of those risks.
Occupational Safety and Health Program
The goals of the Occupational Health and Safety Program (OHSP) at the Florida Department of Health are to characterize work-related injuries and illnesses and to use this information to inform prevention activities that will improve the health and safety of Florida’s workforce. The
OHSP is funded by a grant from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Our activities include:
- Surveillance of work-related injuries and illnesses
- Sharing findings with workers, employers and health care providers
- Collaboration with stakeholders in occupational health on intervention and education efforts
Our program conducts surveillance of:
- Work-Related Hospitalizations
- Fatal Work Injuries
- Work-Related Amputations
- Work-Related Burns
- Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Workers
- Work-Related Pesticide-Associated Illness and Injury
- Work-related Illnesses such as Mesothelioma and Pneumoconiosis
Contacts
Sharon Watkins, PhD
Senior Epidemiologist, PI
850-245-4444 x 3939
Juanita Chalmers, MPH
Occupational Epidemiologist
850-245-4444 x 5117
Occupational Health Indicators
A set of surveillance measures called occupational health indicators have been designed through a joint effort between the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These occupational health indicators are a set of 19 measures by which states can monitor the health of their workforce. The purpose of the indicators is to allow uniform examination over time, comparison between individual states and the nation, and to highlight areas that may need additional exploration.
Reports
Fact Sheets
An introduction to the Florida Occupational Health and Safety Program.
Florida Occupational Health and Safety Program Fact Sheet
These fact sheets on occupational safety and health issues are provided by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pubs/fact_date_desc_nopubnumbers.html
Related links
Adult Blood Lead Program (ABLES)
The ABLES program conducts adult blood lead surveillance. The majority of elevated blood lead levels among adults are occupationally related.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ABLES/ables-state-based.html
Florida Workers Compensation
http://www.myfloridacfo.com/wc/
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Surveillance Homepage
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/surv/
NIOSH State-based Occupational Health Surveillance Clearinghouse
This clearinghouse developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provides access to State-based occupational health surveillance and related reports.
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/niosh-survapps/statedocs/Default.aspx
Southeastern States Occupational Network (SouthOn)
SouthOn is a partnership between entities in the southern states that focuses on fostering and increasing capacity for surveillance of work-related injuries and illnesses at the state and regional level.
http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/erc/SouthON.htm
Sunshine Education and Research Center
The purpose of the Sunshine Education and Research Center is to promote graduate training and research related to occupational health and safety.
http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/erc/index.htm
University of South Florida (USF) Safety Florida Consultation Program
The USF Safety Florida program offers free on-site consultations to assist Florida businesses with identifying hazards and meeting OSHA requirements. This program is separate from the OSHA enforcement program. They can also assist with record keeping, education and training.
http://www.usfsafetyflorida.com/
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