Silicosis

New Jersey law requires that doctors and advanced practice nurses report cases of silicosis to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS). This information is used to maintain a register of reported silicosis cases in order to collect the medical and occupational information necessary to determine if a case meets the criteria for follow-up. Worksite follow-up of identified worksites is conducted by NJDHSS industrial hygienists who evaluate the risk of exposure to silica and recommend control measures to employers to prevent further exposure.

Surveillance of silicosis has been funded since 1984 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Surveillance of silicosis has also led to hazard surveillance projects in which a particular industry that generates silica dust is targeted for study. The NJDHSS has conducted studies of silica exposure in brass and bronze foundries, monument workers, dental laboratories, and the highway construction/repair industry.