The Occupational Health Surveillance Unit (OHSU) is responsible for monitoring trends in work-related injury and illness for the state. Workers’ health can be compromised by a variety of occupational exposures categorized as chemical, biological, ergonomic, environmental/mechanical, physical and psychosocial. OSHU collects information from a variety of sources to determine the number of work-related injuries and illnesses that occur, identify workers at greatest risk, and examine the reasons why workers are hurt. OHSU then helps develop programs to help reduce risky exposures and to prevent injuries, illnesses and associated costs. OSHU is part of the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch of the Division of Public Health.

Major activities

• Acute Pesticide Illness and Injury Surveillance
• Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) Program
• Occupational Health Indicators Project
• Occupational Disease and Injury Reporting (G.S. 130A-455 through 130A-460; 10A NCAC 41C .0700)
• Silicosis
• Asbestosis
• Elevated blood lead levels (> 40 µg/dL) in adults age 18 and older
• Serious and preventable farm injuries caused by tractors, farm equipment, or farm machinery
• Occupational Health Nursing Consultation
• Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance

Program Publications

• Governor's Task Force on Preventing Agricultural Pesticide Exposure; Report to The Honorable Michael F. Easley, Governor of the State of NC (pdf)
• Reporting Acute Pesticide-Related Illness and Injury. The Physician’s Responsibility Under State Public Health Law (brochure) (pdf)
• Assessment of Maternal Occupational Pesticide Exposures during Pregnancy and Three Children with Birth Defects: North Carolina, 2004 (pdf)
• Compendium of Databases Useful in Occupational Health (pdf)
• Occupational Health Trends Report (pdf)
• Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) Annual Report (pdf)
• "Lead Facts: What Employers Need to Know" (pdf)
• "Lead Facts: Adult Blood Lead Testing" (pdf)
• "Lead Facts: Preventing Lead Exposure" (pdf)
• Case Reporting Information and Guidelines (for physicians, labs, medical facilities) (pdf)
• North Carolina Farm Injury Project Summary, 1990-1996 (pdf)
• Other Environmental Contaminants Fact Sheets & Information

Contact us for copies of publications or for more information.