Skip all navigation Skip to page navigation

DHHS Home | A-Z Site Map | Divisions | About Us | Contacts

NC Department of Health and Human Services
NC Division of Public Health
 N.C. Public Health Home
 
 

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

Tip Sheet for Improving Collection of Occupation and Industry Data (PDF, 1.3MB)

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