Tracking Work-Related Asthma

Background and Purpose

Asthma has increased at an alarming rate in the U.S. and in California in the last decade. Work-related asthma has also increased, and it is estimated that workplace exposures are responsible for 15% of all asthma cases among adults in the U.S. Work-related asthma includes new cases caused by exposures at work, as well as asthma that is made worse by conditions at work. To help address work-related  asthma, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provides funding to California, Michigan, Massachusetts, and New Jersey to collect data and develop prevention strategies.

The California asthma program aims to identify industries, occupations and exposures that put workers at risk for work-related asthma. By identifying and understanding the risk factors, we can find new ways to help employers and workers prevent work-related asthma. 

Activities

To achieve these goals, the California asthma program:

• Collects data using Doctor’s First Reports of Occupational Injury or Illness to identify cases;
• Performs telephone interviews in order to confirm and classify cases, as well as to gather more detailed information about occupational and non-occupational risk factors;
• Carries out worksite investigations to identify risk factors and make recommendations for prevention;
• Develops and distributes findings, recommendations, and health education materials to employers, employees, unions, trade organizations, public health professionals, and others; and
• Works with NIOSH and other states that study asthma to combine data and maximize prevention efforts.