Exploring Mutual Interests in Construction Safety and Health Kathleen M. Rest National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970 To assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women.

Every Day 9,000 U.S. workers sustain disabling injuries 16 die from a work injury 137 die from work-related illnesses.

Liberty Mutual 2002 Workplace Safety Index Economic Burden, 1999 Direct: $40.1 billion Total: $240 billion Liberty Mutual 2002 Workplace Safety Index

21 priority areas within: Research 21 priority areas within: Disease and injury Work environment Research tools and approaches

Statistics Construction workers Leading causes of death 7 percent of all workers, but 20 percent of all fatal injuries 1,154 fatalities in 2000 Injury rate: 8.2 FTEs Leading causes of death Falls from elevations Motor vehicle crashes Electrocution Machines Being struck by falling objects

NIOSH Construction Program Began in 1990 Guided by NORA Intramural — about 35 projects a year Extramural — More than 60 projects in 20 states Construction Safety Alliance

Public Health Framework Identify and characterize problem Quantify and prioritize risk factors Develop or identify prevention strategies Evaluate results Disseminate/communicate information

Partnerships Agencies OSHA, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Highway Administration and NHTSA Organizations Construction Safety Council, Asphalt Institute, National Association of Tower Erectors, National Asphalt Pavement Association, Steel Structures Painting Council, International Safety Equipment Association, St. Paul Insurance Co. Unions and labor groups Laborers Health and Safety Fund, International Union of Operating Engineers, United Brotherhood of Carpenters, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers

Intramural Projects Hearing Loss Intervention for Carpenters Screening Methods for Airborne Metals in Construction Ergonomic Engineering Interventions for the Construction Industry Reduction of Silica Exposures in Construction Evaluation of Tool Design Characteristics for Use in Construction Work Control Technology Assistance for the Construction Industry Assessment of Asphalt Fume Exposure from Roofing Kettles Evaluating Toolbox Training in Construction/Mining A Study of Ergonomic Interventions in the Drywall Industry

Intramural Projects Control of Exposure During Application of Asphalt Roofing Materials Vibration Assessments of Powered Hand Tools Asphalt Fumes: Inflammatory Effects and Pulmonary Injury Reducing Injuries from Jolting/Jarring on Mobile Equipment Surface Blasting Safety and Health Assessing the Risks of Injury in Trenching and Evacuation in the U.S. Footwear for Improved Balance Control in Construction Work Evaluating Roadway Construction Work Zone Interventions Evaluation of Electrical Safety High School Curriculum Safety Checklists Program for Schools & Small Business

Extramural Projects A Device for Eliminating Electrocutions by Mobile Cranes Worker and Worksite Factors in Denver International Airport Construction Injury Research on Young Worker Safety and Health Risks in Construction Field Studies with Innovative Safe Excavation Technologies Social/Economic Impact of Injury/Illness in Career Roofers Electrical Arc Injury Parameters and Prevention Evaluation of Dust Control Technologies in Construction Tasks Occupational Low Back Pain in Residential Carpentry:Elements of Posture and Strain Prevention of Falls from Elevations Zero Accident Worksites Pilot Survey of Small Construction Companies

NIOSH Publications

NIOSH Publications http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ Guidance for Protecting Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks

Construction Safety and Health World Trade Center Emergency Project — Most dangerous construction project in the U.S. 2000 construction workers, 3 million hours NO FATALITIES OCCURRED Injury rate half of the national average CII Members safety performance Below national averages for construction

CII Understands: Research is Key Recognizes research as a core process. Identifies, funds, conducts research; disseminates findings. Safety, health and environment is a knowledge area. Uses research to identify and evaluate best practices. Members use best practices to improve performance.

Mutual CII — NIOSH Research Interests for Further Discussion Intervention Effectiveness Tools for evaluating proposed best practices Design for Safety Approaches

Mutual Interests Diverse Work Force Challenges Culture, language, gender 2000: 6 percent increase in Hispanic worker employment, but 24 percent increase in construction fatalities among this group Diverse Work Force Challenges

Mutual Interests Changes in work organization Health hazards Emerging technologies Increasing the overall amount of construction research  

Compendium of Construction Research Assist in development of a research network. Inform construction community about research projects.

NIOSH Goals and Directions Work with partners to identify problems and research gaps. Target research efforts on new and existing priorities. Translate research into practical applications and products. Understand and address barriers to adoption and implementation. Improve networking among researchers. Create and nurture research partnerships.