Upstate Report Says Occupational Disease An 'Epidemic In Plain Sight'

Syracuse NY

13 April, 2022

3:59 PM

Description

Press release from Upstate Medical University: April 12, 2022 A new report from Upstate reveals an "epidemic hidden in plain sight" of death and injury in the workplace in New York State.  According to the report, Occupational Disease in New York State: An Update, an estimated 7,016 deaths annually in New York are due to occupational disease.  Additionally, 13 percent of diseases prevalent in the adult working population are attributable to occupational disease, with millions of workers in New York State exposed to hazardous conditions on the job. All this at a cost to the state of $4 billion, most of which falls to the ill patient and taxpayers.  
Occupational disease is any condition or disorder that is caused by work. It includes things like exposure to chemicals, ergonomic hazards, stress, and Covid-19. Michael Lax, MD, and Jeanette Zoeckler, PhD, who run Upstate's Occupational Health Clinic Center and authored the study, call this an epidemic in plain sight, and even worse, one that is completely preventable.  "Work is such an important part of our lives, yet surprisingly ignored with regard to how work may affect our health," said Lax, a professor of family medicine, and public health and preventive medicine. "Our report sheds light on how prevalent hazardous working conditions are in New York State, resulting in large numbers of workers dying or becoming ill every year, and an enormous number of workers at risk of death or illness from an occupational disease.  "The real tragedy is that all of these deaths and illnesses are unnecessary because they are preventable with improvements in working conditions. With this report we hope to start a conversation about how the toll of work-related disease can be more effectively addressed."  Lax and Zoeckler cite employer attitudes and practices, declining unionization, discrimination, and government policies, along with the changing nature of the workplace, as all contributing to the problem. The study also includes a category called emergent occupational hazards, which include psychological stressors, substance abuse, obesity and Covid -19.  Despite the high numbers of injured and ill workers, funding and clinical resources to treat these patients remains scarce. There are only 30 board-certified occupational medicine specialists accepting patients with workers' compensation insurance in the whole state. Based on current numbers, that means one specialist for every 66,666 patients.  Upstate's clinic is a part of the New York State Occupational Health Clinic Network, which is publicly funded and administered by the New York State Department of Health. Zoeckler said the network of clinics has not received an increase in funding in 12 years.  This press release was produced by Upstate Medical University. The views expressed here are the author's own.