Georgia Occupational Health and Safety Surveillance Program

More than five million people age 16 years and older make up Georgia’s workforce. Since almost half of a worker’s lifetime is spent at work or commuting, the workplace is an important determinant of a person’s health. Some workers are employed in occupations or industries that may put them at higher risk of work-related injuries or illnesses or being exposed to harmful substances. Work-related injuries and illnesses are preventable. The Georgia Department of Public Health Occupational Health and Safety Surveillance Program monitors occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in the state, identifies groups at increased risk, and provides data to target prevention efforts. This surveillance system is based on the indicators for occupational health that have been recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE). These indicators serve as baseline measures of the occupational health status of the state’s workforce and allows the state to track trends and guide prevention and intervention efforts.

Mission

To promote the health and safety of Georgia workers by:

Collecting information about work-related injuries, illnesses, and hazards in Georgia
Raising public awareness of workplace risks, targeting intervention activities, and guiding the development of prevention programs and policies
Educating workers and employers to address identified occupational health and safety problems
Integrating occupational health into ongoing public health practice at the state and local levels

Goals

Collect, analyze, and report data on occupational illnesses, injuries, and related factors in Georgia based on the recommended NIOSH-CSTE Occupational Health Indicators
Establish and maintain an Advisory Committee, representing partner organizations and stakeholders, to assess the surveillance system and the data it provides, and to make recommendations that will enhance its impact and use
Participate fully in NIOSH’s State-based Occupational Health and Safety Surveillance, including regular meeting attendance and timely reporting of Georgia's data to multi-state projects, summaries and reports

About Worker Health and Safety Surveillance

Learn more at CDC/NIOSH https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/surveillance/about/index.html

View the Occupational Health Indicators https://www.cste/org/page/ohindicatorstable

Occupational Lead Poisoning Prevention

Lead Poisoning: Exposure at Work