surveillance of Work-Related Lung Disease in Michigan
In 1988 the State of Michigan instituted a tracking program for silicosis, with financial assistance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The surveillance program is a joint project of the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) in the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Michigan State University (MSU). The incidence of sillcosis cases in Michigan has been declining since the late 1990s. In an effort to continue to identify, understand and prevent other work-related lung disease, the tracking program was expanded in 2010 to include other lung diseases such as Asbestosis, Chronic Beryllium Disease, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP) and Hard Metal Lung Disease. Newly identified cases are interviewed about their exposures and work history and MIOSHA enforcement workplace inspections m ay be conducted to determine if other employees are at risk of developing similar lung disease.
There are four major sources used to identify persons with work-related lung disease:
- Reports from physicians (both private practice and company physicians)
- Reports from hospitals
- Claims filed with the Workers' Compensation Agency
- Death Certificates
RESOURCES
- Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
- Most Recent ANNUAL REPORT
- Most Recent Work-Related Lung Diseases DATA FACT SHEET
- Most Recent Asbestos-Related Lung Disease DATA FACT SHEET