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: September 2, 2016
Expiration date: September 2, 2023

Entire Chapter

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

1. The administrator of a hospital in which a person receives a diagnosis of a disease, injury, or poisoning that (b), (c), and (d) below identify shall report the diagnosis to the Department, using the applicable ICD-10-CM code, as part of the hospital's discharge data reporting pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:2H-1 et seq., and N.J.A.C. 8:31B.
   1. A person receives a diagnosis pursuant to (a) above if the disease, injury, or poisoning appears as a diagnosis in the person's discharge summary.
2. The following diseases and conditions are reportable pursuant to (a) above:
   1. Carpal tunnel syndrome; and
   2. Diseases falling within the following condition categories:
      1. Asbestosis;
      2. Asthma;
      3. Byssinosis (airway disease due to specific organic dust);
      4. Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis;
      5. Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis;
      6. Malignant Mesothelioma;
      7. Respiratory Conditions due to Chemical Fumes and Vapors;
      8. Silicosis; and
      9. Unspecified/Other Pneumoconioses.
3. A poisoning resulting from the toxic effect of one the following is reportable pursuant to (a) above, provided the poisoning is not the result of a suicide attempt:
   1. Alcohol (excluding alcoholic beverages and alcoholism);
   2. Carbon Monoxide;
   3. Corrosive substances;
   4. Halogen derivatives of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons;
   5. Metals;
   6. Organic solvents;
   7. Other gases, fumes, or vapors;
   8. Other inorganic substances;
   9. Soaps and detergents; and
   10. Pesticides.
4. The following injuries, if work-related or occupational, are reportable pursuant to (a) above:
   1. Fatal injuries; and
   2. Injuries in minors.

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.