OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE IN NEW YORK STATE: AN UPDATE Michael B. Lax, MD, MPH Jeanette M. Zoeckler, PhD, MPH Occupational disease is an epidemic that is largely ‘hidden in plain sight.’ At the same time, work-related disease is preventable. Since these illnesses arise or are made worse by hazardous workplace conditions, elimination or reduction of those hazards eliminates or reduces disease. More than 30 years ago, a report by Drs. Landrigan and Markowitz found that more than 5,000 NYS workers died from an occupational disease and at least 35,000 more developed a workrelated illness each year. This new report shows that occupational disease remains a major public health problem in New York State, with little progress made since 1987. Annually, over seven thousand New Yorkers lose their lives due to preventable exposure to workplace hazards, and at any given time, over two million New Yorkers suffer from a non-fatal work-related disease. Protecting workers from these hazards requires a multi-faceted approach, addressing disease recognition, treatment and prevention, and must involve both governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations and advocates. Low-Wage Workers’ Health The Low-Wage Workers’ Health Project seeks to characterize local workplace conditions in the low wage sector of the job market through interaction with people who live and work in Syracuse. Partnerships with Workers’ Centers The Occupational Health Clinical Center partner with multiple Workers’ Centers across the Central New York area. Workers’ at Heights Health & Safety Imitative In fast-growing tower industry, workers are still getting seriously hurt or dying from incidents that are both foreseeable and largely preventable. This occurs despite OSHA regulations regarding 100% tie-off and industry-touted safety claims about its trainings and crew conduct in the field. Hair Salon Project The targeted population are urban African-American hair salons in the Syracuse NY area.