Workplace Health and Safety

New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 8. NJ Department of Health
Chapter 58. Reportable Occupational and Environmental Diseases,
Injuries, and Poisonings
Effective Date: June 12, 2023.
Expiration date: June 12, 2030.

Entire Chapter

SUBCHAPTER 1. Occupational and Environmental Diseases, Injuries, and Poisonings

1. A health care provider who diagnoses a person as having a disease, injury, or poisoning that (b), (c), or (d) below identify shall complete the Occupational Disease, Injury, or Poisoning Report by Health Care Provider form with respect to the patient and submit the completed form to the Occupational Health Surveillance Unit within 30 days of making the diagnosis.
2. The following diseases and conditions are reportable pursuant to (a) above:
   1. Asbestosis;
   2. Asthma, confirmed, work-related, and suspected, work-related;
   3. Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis;
   4. Silicosis;
   5. Unspecified/Other Pneumoconiosis; and
   6. Other occupational disease.
3. The following injuries and conditions, if work-related or occupational, are reportable pursuant to (a) above:
   1. Carpal tunnel syndrome;
   2. Fatal injuries;
   3. Injuries in minors; and
   4. Unspecified contact dermatitis.
4. A poisoning due to the toxic effect of one of the following substances is reportable pursuant to (a) above, provided that if (d)1 through 5 below specify a minimum level for the substance, only upon a diagnosis at or above the specified level:
   1. Arsenic
      1. In blood at level greater than or equal to 0.07 micrograms per milliliter; or
      2. In urine at level greater than or equal to 100 micrograms per liter;
   2. Cadmium:
      1. In blood at level greater than or equal to five micrograms per liter of whole blood; or
      2. In urine at level greater than or equal to three micrograms per gram of creatinine;
   3. Lead in a person of 16 years of age or older:
      1. In blood at level greater than or equal to five micrograms per deciliter; or
      2. In urine at level greater than or equal to 32 micrograms per liter;
   4. Mercury:
      1. In blood at level greater than or equal to 2.8 micrograms per deciliter; or
      2. In urine at level greater than or equal to 20 micrograms per liter;
   5. Pesticide; and
   6. Other substance or toxin, unspecified, if exposure is work-related or occupational.

The Department may require a hospital and/or a health care provider to provide additional information after receipt of a report pursuant to this chapter if information is missing or if the Department requires other information as necessary to conduct surveillance, perform research, and/or undertake other public health activities.

1. The reports and forms submitted to the Department pursuant to this chapter contain demographic and medical information related to the Department's investigations and epidemiological studies of occupational and environmental diseases, injuries, and poisonings and shall not be considered "government records" subject to public access or inspection within the meaning of N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq. and shall be deemed:
   1. "Information relating to medical history, diagnosis, treatment, or evaluation" within the meaning of Executive Order No. 26, § 4(b)1 (McGreevey, August 13, 2002);
   2. "Records concerning morbidity, mortality and reportable diseases of named persons required to be made, maintained or kept by any State or local governmental agency" within the meaning of Executive Order No. 9, § 2(c) (Hughes, September 30, 1963); and/or
   3. Information "for use in the field of forensic pathology or for use in medical or scientific education or research" pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1.
2. The Department, and such other agencies as the Commissioner may designate, shall use the reports submitted pursuant to this chapter to carry out mandated duties, including the duty to control and suppress occupational and environmental diseases, injuries, and poisonings.

1. Violations of this chapter are subject to the penalties established at N.J.S.A. 26:1A-10.
   1. Each violation of any provision of this chapter constitutes a separate offense.

Go to http://healthapps.state.nj.us/forms/ and type “occ-31” in search box.