In the late 19th century, workers' health was among the central concerns of the social reform movement to improve public health. Today, few state health agencies have comprehensive occupational health programs. Yet, state public health agencies have critical roles to play in occupational health and may be particularly instrumental in addressing the occupational health needs of underserved worker populations.
Since the mid-1980s, with support from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has been working to build an occupational health program and promote the integration of occupational health concerns with ongoing public health activities in the state. This article provides a framework for considering the range of integration activities and presents examples of successful occupational health integration efforts in Massachusetts.
References
1.
DericksonA. Making human junk: child labor as a health issue in the progressive era. Am J Public Health1992;82:1280–90.
2.
RosnerDMarkowitzG. Research or advocacy: federal occupational safety and health policies during the New Deal. In: RosnerDMarkowitzG, editors. Dying for work: workers' safety and health in twentieth century America. Bloomington and Indianapolis (IN): Indiana University Press; 1987. p. 63–102.
DavisL. Roles of state and local departments. In: LevyBSWagnerGRRestKMWeeksJL, editors. Preventing occupational disease and injury. 2nd ed.Washington: American Public Health Association; 2005. p. 63–72.
5.
StanburyMAndersonHRogersPBonautoDDavisLMaternaB. Guidelines for minimum and comprehensive state-based public health activities in occupational safety and health. Cincinnati: Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (US); 2008. DHHS/NIOSH Publication No. 2008-148.
6.
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. The role of the states in a nationwide, comprehensive surveillance system for work-related diseases, injuries, and hazards: a report from the NIOSH-CSTE Surveillance Planning Work Group. 2001 [cited 2008 Mar 20]. Available from: URL: http://www.cste.org/OH/pdfffiles/NIOSH.pdf
7.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Reportable diseases, surveillance, and isolation and quarantine requirements. 105 MA CMR 300.
8.
ThomsenCMcClainJRosenmanKDavisL. Indicators for occupational health surveillance. MMWR Recomm Rep2007;56(RR-1):1–7.
9.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US). The national occupational research agenda (NORA). Cincinnati: Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (US); 1996. DHHS/NIOSH Publication No. 1996-115.
10.
FrumkinHPranskyG. Special populations in occupational health. Occup Med1999;14:479–84.
11.
DembeA. Social inequalities in occupational health and health care for work-related injuries and illnesses. Int J Law Psychiatry1999;22:567–79.
12.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US). NIOSH program portfolio: occupational health disparities program description [cited 2009 Feb 9]. Available from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/ohd
13.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US). NIOSH alert: preventing allergic reactions to natural rubber latex in the workplace. Cincinnati: Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (US); 1997. DHHS/NIOSH Publication No. 1997-135.
14.
Department of Health and Human Services (US). Healthy People 2010: understanding and improving health. 2nd ed.Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office; 2000.
15.
Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. Workplace stress in Victoria: developing a systems approach. May 2006 [cited 2009 Feb 9]. Available from: URL: http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/workplacestress
16.
Partnership for a Heart Healthy Stroke Free Massachusetts. The health of Massachusetts: a coordinated response to heart disease and stroke. Boston: Massachusetts Department of Public Health; 2004. Also available from: URL: http://www.heartstrokema.org/files/PHHSFM_State_Plan_2006_1MB_.pdf [cited 2009 Feb 9].
17.
University of Massachusetts Lowell. Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace [cited 2008 Dec 9]. Available from: URL: http://www.uml.edu/centers/cph-new
18.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Wellness Division. Creating a culture of health: organizational approaches to promoting and protecting employee health: results from the 2008 Massachusetts Worksite Health Improvement Survey. Boston: Massachusetts Department of Public Health; 2009. In press.
Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. Employment and wages ES-202 [cited 2008 Mar 20]. Available from: URL: http://lmi2.detma.org
23.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health. 105 MA CMR 130.000: hospital licensure. Boston: Massachusetts Department of Public Health; 2008.
24.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program. Sharps injuries among hospital workers in Massachusetts, 2004: findings from the Massachusetts Sharps Injury Surveillance System. April 2007 [cited 2008 Mar 20]. Available from: URL: http://mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/occupational_health/injuries_hospital_2004.pdf
25.
Trust for America's Health. Blueprint for a healthier America: modernizing the federal public health system to focus on prevention and preparedness. Washington: Trust for America's Health; 2008.
