Management and Collection of Occupational Data for Health (ODH) in National Public Health Statistics: Evaluation and Recommendations for Korea

Background: The aims of this study are to examine how occupation-related data and information for health (ODH) are collected and managed from census-based surveys and potential occupational illness and injuries (POI_S) statistics, and to propose a national strategy for the systematic collection, analysis, and management of ODH by building on the Korean Standard Classification of Occupation (KSCO) and using a job exposure matrix (JEM). Methods: The status of the collection and management of ODH registered as national statistics, drawn not only from the census-based general population and workforce, but also from POIS statistics was reviewed and evaluated. Results: ODH from the Republic of Korea's Census of Population and Labor Force are collected and classified according to the KSCO. In contrast, national statistics on POIS are not systematically collected for KSCO coding, reflecting the lack of an KSCO and related guidelines on how to collect ODH. Key frameworks for the construction of both an KSCO and a reference JEM for public health surveillance are proposed. Conclusions: Further research is needed to develop a national system for collecting and managing ODH, which will ultimately contribute to the use of a national KSCO and the construction of JEM for public health surveillance.