Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance

Kentucky (KY) ranks as the 14th-worst state for fatal occupational injury rates, and 8th-worst for nonfatal occupational 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 fundamental (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 OHls, and comprehensive surveilliance of occupational injuries to identify risk factors, and for intrastate, multi-state, regional, and national collaborations. New OHls 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, Extensive analyses, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance data will include the identification and characterization of long-haul vs. short-haul truck drivers injuries, a multiple jobholder fatality study, FACE data trend analyses, and spatial analyses to determine high risk collision areas involving commercial truck drivers. Data results will be promoted through partnerships and collaborations with stakeholders and NIOSH. FACE & KOSHS personnel will attend grantee and FACE meetings, and conference calls. Worker safety program seminars will be presented and web-based data query systems will be developed. Annual reports, fatality reports, hazard alerts, and 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.