At a glance
- States started participating in the FACE Program in 1989.
- State FACE Programs monitor worker deaths, conduct investigations, and recommend prevention strategies at the state level.
- Current participating FACE states are California, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Washington.
Overview
State FACE programs conduct in-depth field investigations for selected fatal injury cases in priority categories.
The NIOSH FACE Program determines priority categories using national and state priorities and the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data. NIOSH FACE periodically reviews and updates these priorities to remain responsive to national and state needs.
Current priority categories
- Robot-related
- Tree care/arborist
- Powered industrial trucks/warehousing
- Tow truck drivers
- Waste collection/sanitation
How the program works
State FACE Programs use the NIOSH FACE Program model. They identify their investigations two ways:
- Monitoring all external causes of occupational death within the funded state
- Collecting general data on cases
Investigations
- State FACE investigators evaluate the location where the death occurred. They examine the worksite and collect facts about what happened before, during, and after the incident.
- State FACE investigators talk with company officials, witnesses, and workers to learn about the work environment and the deceased.
- State FACE investigators analyze the collected information, then prepare a report. Reports are anonymous and do not name the workers, witnesses, or others involved in the incident.
- State FACE investigators send the report to the employer.
- NIOSH posts the State FACE report to the website so others can use it for prevention strategies, training, and education purposes.
State FACE investigators
State FACE investigators are safety professionals, engineers, or industrial hygienists. They have training and experience in identifying workplace hazards and developing recommendations to reduce the risk of injury and death.
State FACE investigators do not enforce compliance with State or Federal occupational safety and health standards. They also do not determine fault or blame.
State FACE investigators will not ask family members for an interview as part of their investigation but will share information and findings upon request. They will not include names of employers, victims, and/or witnesses in written investigative reports or in the FACE database.
Contacts
To receive e-mail notifications for California FACE publications, please email: face@cdph.ca.gov
To receive e-mail notifications for Kentucky FACE publications, please email: kyfaceprogram@uky.edu
To receive e-mail notifications for Louisiana FACE publications, please email: workerhealth@la.gov
To receive e-mail notifications for Massachusetts FACE publications, please email: MA.FACE@state.ma.us
To receive e-mail notifications for Michigan FACE publications, please email: Occupational and Environmental Medicine College of Human Medicine (msu.edu)
To receive e-mail notifications for New York FACE publications, please email: boh@health.ny.gov
To receive e-mail notifications for Michigan FACE publications, please email: orface@ohsu.edu
To receive e-mail notifications for Washington FACE publications, please email: SHARP@Lni.wa.gov