Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance

Kentucky ..KY.. ranks as the 14th]worst state for fatal occupational injury rates, and 8th]worst for nonfatal occu]pational injury and illnesses. This expanded project focuses on the population]based and case]based surveillance of work]related injuries and illnesses in KY, a southeastern HHS Region 4 state. The objectives of the fundamen]tal ..occupational health indicator ..OHI.. component.. KY Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance ..KOSHS.. and expanded Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation ..FACE.. programs are to identify industry sectors, occupations, and worker populations at high risk for work injuries and illnesses; identify potential risk factors, trends, and emerging issues; develop and implement targeted strategies for dissemination of occupational injury data; identify gaps within national occupational injury surveillance systems; and advance the usefulness of surveillance data at the federal, state, and local levels. The methodology consists of conducting population]based surveillance of 26 OHIs, and comprehensive surveilllance of occupational injuries to be used to identify risk factors, and for intrastate, multi]state, regional, and national collaborations. New OHIs will be developed for state worker injuries and for work]related emergency department visits. On]site case investigations will be performed within the truck transportation sector, and within the NIOSH]recommended priority areas for investigation. Extensive analyses, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance data will include the identification and characterization of long]haul vs. short]haul truck drivers injuries, a study of multiple jobholder fatalites, trend analyses of FACE data, and spatial analysis to determine high risk collision areas involving commercial truck drivers. The use of data results will be promoted through partnerships and collaborations with stakeholders and NIOSH. FACE and KOSHS personnel will attend grantee meetings, FACE meetings, and conference calls. Seminars on the value of a wotrker safety program will be presented and web]based data query systems will be developed. Annual reports, fatality reports, hazard alerts, and peer]reviewed and non]peer reviewed publications will be produced and disseminated for impact at state, local, and national levels. An advisory committee will be maintained; a process, impact, and outcome evaluation of the major activties will be conducted.