Figure 1. States participating in HSEES in Fiscal Year 2001
HSEES states
Hazardous Substances
the cohort as a whole. Lost-day injuries that
occurred to hazardous waste workers and to the
Emergency Events
cohort as a whole were similar in nature to
Surveillance (HSEES)
those observed in studies of construction trade
workforces. Between 25% and 30% of lost-day
Since 1990, ATSDR has maintained an active,
injuries occurred to workers who reported
state-based Hazardous Substances Emergency
that they were not wearing personal protective
Events Surveillance (HSEES) system. The pur-
equipment at the time of injury. Elevated rates
pose of HSEES is to describe the public health
of chronic diseases such as heart disease and
consequences associated with the release of haz-
cancer were not expected during the first 4 years
ardous substances and to develop strategies to
of followup evaluated in this report because of
reduce and prevent releases and their associated
the long induction and latency periods for these
adverse health effects. In fiscal year 2001,
diseases, as well as the fact that the cohort con-
16 states participated in HSEES; New Jersey
sisted of healthy workers capable of performing
and Utah began collecting data in 2000 and
hazardous waste site remediation.
Louisiana in 2001.
Workers involved in hazardous waste site reme-
During fiscal year 2001, ATSDR published a
diation are potentially exposed to high levels of
report summarizing the findings of the surveil-
complex mixtures of chemical contaminants, as
lance for the 5-year period from 1993 through
well as physical hazards. The findings of the
1997. During this period, 10 states participated
surveillance system reinforce the importance of
in HSEES for all 5 years: Alabama, Colorado,
prevention strategies such as worker training,
Iowa, New York, North Carolina, Oregon,
the proper use of personal protective equipment,
Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, and
and the maintenance of a safe workplace, in
Wisconsin. Four states participated during por-
order to minimize injuries and disease.
tions of the period considered: Minnesota,
Mississippi, Missouri, and New Hampshire.
chapter 3 51
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