Data Sources
Data for the Worker Health Charts are provided by the following organizations and programs.
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2016-2020
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the largest continuously conducted health survey system in the world, conducting telephone interviews with more than 400,000 U.S. adults each year. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories collaborate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to collect information on health conditions and risk factors from the non-institutionalized adult population. Since 2013 NIOSH has sponsored an optional module designed to collect industry and occupation (I & O) data, and many states have incorporated this module into their survey. Learn more about this data and how it is used at the BRFSS Topic Page.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Its mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate essential economic information to support public and private decision-making. As an independent statistical agency, BLS serves its diverse user communities by providing products and services that are objective, timely, accurate, and relevant.
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS 2004 - 2013)
The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is an annual, in-person health survey and the principal source of information about the health of the civilian, non-institutionalized, household population of the United States. The survey is conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The NHIS sample is designed and weighted to produce national estimates. NIOSH uses data from the NHIS to estimate the prevalence of various health conditions and health behaviors among US workers. The charts available here are based on NHIS data from 2004-2013. See the Core questions included in the Worker Health Charts (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nhis/data2004-2013.html).
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS 2015)
The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is an annual, in-person health survey and the principal source of information about the health of the civilian, non-institutionalized, household population of the United States. The survey is conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The NHIS sample is designed and weighted to produce national estimates. NIOSH uses data from the NHIS to estimate the prevalence of various health conditions and health behaviors among US workers. The charts available here are based on data from the 2015 NHIS, which included an Occupational Health Supplement. See the supplemental questions included in the Worker Health Charts (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nhis/data2015.html).
Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology & Surveillance (ABLES)
The ABLES program is a state-based surveillance program of laboratory-reported adult blood lead levels. The program objective is to build state capacity to initiate, expand, or improve adult blood lead surveillance programs which can accurately measure trends in adult blood lead levels and which can effectively intervene to prevent lead over-exposures.
National Occupational Mortality Surveillance (NOMS)
NIOSH National Occupational Mortality Surveillance (NOMS) is a partnership between NIOSH, NCHS and vital statistics jurisdictions that provides periodic surveillance of work-related mortality among US workers. The program protects workers by evaluating the size and extent of disease mortality in association with occupation and industry settings. NOMS does this by providing data to identify new risks or confirm existing risks for occupational disease mortality that can point to opportunities for prevention and further study. For more information on data and PMRs see National Occupational Mortality Surveillance | NOMS | NIOSH | CDC or email noms@cdc.gov
Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risk (SENSOR)
The mission of the Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risk (SENSOR) program is to build and maintain occupational illness and injury surveillance capacity within state health departments. Under this program, NIOSH provides cooperative agreement funding and technical support to state health departments to conduct surveillance on one or more occupational illnesses or injuries.
Fatalities in the Oil and Gas Extraction Industry (FOG)
The FOG database relies on several sources for incident identification and information, including formal investigations by federal, state, and local agencies, public records, and direct notifications from industry partners. For more detailed information, click here.