SURVEILLANCE OF OCCUPATIONAL-DISEASES IN THE UNITED-STATES - A SURVEYOF ACTIVITIES AND DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESS

Managers of state-based occupational disease surveillance programs wer e interviewed for information on their program's characteristics and f actors that contributed to their success. There were 68 programs in 52 jurisdictions (50 states, the District of Columbia, and New York City ). Reportable conditions ranged from a specific disease to ''all occup ational diseases.'' Of these programs, 56% met at least one of their o bjectives, Conditions associated with successful programs usually had short latency periods, were easily diagnosed and were related to a wor kplace hazard. They included agricultural injuries, burns, respiratory diseases, cumulative trauma disorders, and poisonings due to lead pes ticides, or carbon monoxide. Successful programs had larger budgets an d more staff than did unsuccessful programs, and also took actions aft er notification of a condition.