Public health nursing systems can provide essential occupational health services to the private sector. New occupational health programs can be created by public health agencies for private sector organizations without onsite occupational health programs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Implementing and Evaluating Public Health Systems provide an excellent framework for development of targeted programs to meet employee health needs. Outsourcing of occupational health services by private businesses and government agencies to their local health department can be effective and economical. Innovative entrepreneurial efforts by health department nurses can bring direct interventions into occupational settings to improve the health of the individual, family, and community and thus reduce the public health burden.