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

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

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

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

5. 21 priority areas within:
Research
21 priority areas within:
Disease and injury
Work environment
Research tools and approaches

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. NIOSH Publications

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

15. 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

16. 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.

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

18. 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

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

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

21. 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.