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Occupational Health

Reporting Illnesses & Injuries

Occupational diseases and injuries that are reportable to the state include:

  • Silicosis (ICD9 code 501)
  • Asbestosis (ICD9 code 502)
  • 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

For information on reporting pesticide-related illnesses and injuries, see Pesticide Illness and Injury Surveillance Program.

When to Report

Since January 1, 1994, physicians and laboratories must report, and medical facilities may report, the above-named conditions within 15 days of diagnosis to Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology (OEE), N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Who Should Report

Physicians, laboratories and medical facilities.

See our brochure Reporting Occupational Illnesses & Injuries - The Physician's Responsibility Under State Public Health Law (PDF).

What to Report

Using the N.C. form Report of Occupational Illness or Injury, OHSP-01, the physician or medical facility should provide the following information:

  • diagnosis
  • patient's name, address, telephone number, date of birth, Social Security number, race, gender, and job title
  • employer's name, address, telephone number, and type of business
  • reporter's (physician's, laboratory's, or medical facility's) name, address, and telephone number

When a laboratory reports laboratory findings related to occupational disease or illness, the following information must be included:

  • specimen collection date
  • patient's name, age, gender, race, and Social Security number
  • submitting physician's/employer's name, address, and telephone number
  • name, address, and telephone number of the laboratory

How to Report

Reports are made on the surveillance form (Report of Occupational Illness or Injury, OHSP-01) provided by or approved by OEE Occupational Surveillance.

Reports can be mailed (see address below) or faxed (919-870-4807) to Occupational Surveillance. Staff are gradually implementing electronic submission capability. The mailing address is:

Occupational Health Surveillance
Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services
1912 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1912

Confidentiality

Patients' names are confidential and are not released without consent. Only aggregate information is provided to the public.

What Happens After a Case Is Reported

In some cases, patients are interviewed to gather additional information about a worksite and to assess potential hazards. Often, information is provided to patients and their healthcare provider about related health concerns and workplace protections. A worksite visit may be recommended to evaluate the work environment depending upon the number of reports, severity of the illness, extent of the hazard, wishes of the patient/worker, and guidance of the reporting physician.

 

NCDHHS