Iowa FACE

The University of Iowa coordinates the NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program, which conducts surveillance of all occupational fatalities in the state of Iowa.  A subset of these cases are selected to conduct full investigations, where in-depth evaluation of the conditions and root causes of fatal occupational injuries are conducted.  Outreach materials are developed for many state-wide and regional stakeholders with the ultimate goal of reducing work injuries. 

Annual fatality summaries are available for students and researchers, and opportunities for students to analyze data and develop hazard alerts are available.  Case studies are often incorporated into educational curriculum in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health within the College of Public Health as well as regional outreach during workshops and undergraduate and community college courses.  See the IOWA FACE web site for more details http://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/face/index.html. 

In addition to generating outreach materials directed toward at-risk worker populations, the FACE team published a manuscript using the IOWA FACE data, with collaboration with the state medical examiner's office, to investigate toxicological testing of fatally injured workers in Iowa:

• Ramirez MR, Bedford R, Sullivan R, Anthony TR, Kraemer J, Faine B, Peek-Asa C (2013). Toxicology Testing in Fatally Injured Workers: A Review of Five Years of Iowa FACE Cases. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 10(11):6154-6168. [PMC3863892]