ESTIMATES OF THE EXTENT OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY DUE TO OCCUPATIONAL-DISEASES IN CANADA

Objective: To estimate the extent of occupational disease morbidity an d mortality in Canada by comparing and contrasting four different data sources. Data Sources: 1) Canadian National Workers' Compensation Boa rds Statistics, 2) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics adjusted to Canadia n Workforce, 3) California Physician's First Reports adjusted to the C anadian Workforce, and 4) proportionate model of overall disease incid ence obtained through literature review. Main Findings: Each data sour ce was limited in its ability to provide a true estimate of the extent of morbidity and mortality due to occupational disease in Canada. Col lectively, an estimate of between 77,900 and 112,000 new cases of occu pational diseases and 2,381 to 6,010 occupational disease deaths were obtained. Conclusions: Occupational diseases are a significant and und erestimated cause of morbidity and mortality in Canada. (C) 1994 Wiley -Liss, Inc.