1. Matt Gillen, MS, CIH NIOSH/CDC NIOSH Construction Program Coordinator
Top Construction Problems and the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) to address them
Matt Gillen, MS, CIH
NIOSH/CDC
NIOSH Construction Program
Coordinator
ICOH International Scientific Committee in the Construction Industry
April 25, Washington, DC

2. Overview NIOSH and NORA Utility of Strategic Goals
Methodology Highlights
Resulting Draft goals
Suggestions for
International collaboration?
Disclaimer – The findings and conclusions in this presentation
have not been formally disseminated by the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health and should not be
construed to represent any agency determination or policy

3. NIOSH role in the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Framework3
NIOSH role in the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Framework
Regulation/Enforcement
Research and
Prevention Recommendations
Department of Labor
(DOL)
Department of
Health and Human Services
(HHS)
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
(CDC)
Mine Safety
and Health
Administration
(MSHA)
Occupational
Safety and Health
Administration
(OSHA)
National Institute for
Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH)

4. First decade of NORA 1996-2006 (National Occupational Research Agenda)4
First decade of NORA (National Occupational Research Agenda)
NIOSH-supported national partnership
Defined research priorities
Expanded resources and effort on the priority topics
21 Research Priorities
8 on Disease and Injury
5 on Work Environment and Workforce
8 on Research tools and Approaches 4

5. Second Decade of NORA 2006-2016 Making An Impact !5
Second Decade of NORA
Why reorient NORA around sectors?
Research increasingly being judged by impact
Moving research into practice through
partnerships is key to making an impact
Industry and employee group partners
are organized by sector
Use term “second decade of NORA” to describe
Making An Impact ! 5

6. Utility of Strategic Goals and a “National Construction Agenda” ?
Vehicle for:
Stakeholder input on the most relevant problems
Encouraging and fostering sector-wide partnerships and activities on a manageable subset of important issues
Steering research towards cohesive relevant topic areas

7. Overview of process Sector Council Discussions
Surveillance
and research
findings
Stakeholder
NORA
Comments
NORA Sector
Council Member
Input
Sector Council Discussions
to identify “Top 10 Problems”
and issues
Research councils – one for each of the eight sectors and one for cross-cutting issues.
Input will be provided to the sector research council verbatim as well as summarily.
Using that information, in combination with surveillance data and member expertise, the research council will begin to set priorities that will ultimately form the draft research strategy.
10 workgroups
convert problem topics into
Draft Goals

8. NORA Construction Sector Council Categories
Federal Government
NIOSH Construction Program; OSHA Directorate of Construction
State Government
Wisconsin Division of Public Health; Kentucky Department of Labor; Massachusetts Dept of Public Health
Employee organizations
Building and Construction Trades Dept (BCTD); Laborers Health and Safety Fund; International Union of Operating Engineers
Employers/ Employer organizations
American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA); Washington Group International; Forrester Construction; Associated General Contractors; National Association of Homebuilders
Researchers
Center to Protect Workers Rights (CPWR); University of Iowa; Duke University Medical Center; Rand
Professional Associations
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE); American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA); American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Building Owners
Navy Facilities Engineering Command
Special Categories
Construction Safety Council; National
Excavation and Safety Training Institute
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
This shows you the groups represented at the kick-off meeting
It includes for example folks with connections to the liaison committee such as Dr Henry Anderson, and CPWR

9. Criteria for looking at potential topics
What evidence supports this as a top problem?
Who is affected? (what trades or industry divisions)
Why does the problem persist?
What would be the ideal situation?
What stage are we at in our knowledge and understanding of this construction problem?
Can the problem be described using common priority-setting criteria?
-Severity, Incidence or Prevalence -Size of exposed population
-Need to improve current performance -Likelihood that research will
-How much change is needed for near make a difference for term improvement? addressing this problem?
From a construction practice perspective, what stage is the problem at?
-For Construction Safety and Health Practitioners?
-For Contractors and Workers?

10. Two broad categories emerged
OUTCOMES - 3 topics reflecting the most
Important types of injuries, fatalities, illnesses,
disorders and causes
Reducing Major Sources of Injuries and Fatalities
Falls, Electrocution, Struck by and caught between
Reducing Major Health Exposures and Sources of Illness
Silica, Welding fumes, Noise
Reducing Major Sources of Musculoskeletal Disorders

11. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS - 7 topics reflecting positive or negative influences affecting the likelihood that prevention and control measures are taken on a construction job
Construction Culture
Management of Safety and Health in Construction
Construction Industry and Work Organization
Training Issues
Vulnerable worker issues
Design for Safety and Prevention Issues
Improved Surveillance for hazards and outcomes

12. How to convert top problems into goals?
Use Logic Model framework for shared understanding on
How research leads to impact
Key roles of construction groups
Different types of goals needed
Use workgroups that include corresponding members
Use common goal template

13. Logic Model
Traditional research planning direction

14. Logic Model Insights….
Impact occurs when final customers (workers and contractors) change practices
Researchers have fewer direct contacts with these final customers
Intermediate groups (unions, trade associations, professionals, others) are in the pivotal middle position
Primary customers for research
Key influence on workers and contractors
Ideal partners for Research and R2P

15. Approach for developing goals
Research and R2P Goals
should reflect these activities
Intermediate Goals
Should reflect these
activities
Strategic Goals
Should reflect
impact
Develop strategic goals first, then work backwards

16. Goal template Strategic Goal 1 Performance Measure 1 Narrative
Intermediate Goal 1
Performance Measure
Narrative if needed
Research Goal 1
Research Goal 2
Research to Practice Goal 3

17. Resulting goals SG 1.0 - Reduce Construction Worker fatalities
and serious injuries caused by falls to a lower level (4 IG, 15 R/R2P)
SG Reduce fatal and nonfatal injuries from contact with electricity
among construction workers. (4 IG, 10 R/R2P)
SG Reduce fatal and serious injuries associated with struck-by
incidents associated with objects, vehicles, and collapsing materials and
structures. (8 IG, 20 R/R2P)
SG 4.0 – Reduce hearing loss among construction workers by increased
use of noise reduction solutions, practices, and hearing conservation
programs by the construction community (4 IG, 13 R/R2P)
SG 5.0 – Reduce silica exposures and future silicosis risks among
Construction workers by increasing the availability and use of silica dust
controls and practices for tasks associated with important exposures.
(5 IG, 15 R/R2P)

18. SG 6.0 – Reduce welding fume exposures and future related health risks
among construction workers by increasing the availability and use of
welding fume controls and practices for welding tasks (5 IG, 16 R/R2P)
SG Reduce the incidence and severity of work-related Musculoskeletal
disorders among construction workers in the U.S (4 IG, 14 R/R2P)
SG Increase understanding of factors that comprise both positive and
negative construction safety and health cultures; and, expand the
availability and use of effective interventions to maintain safe work
practices100% of the time in the construction industry. (3 IG, 22 R/R2P)
SG Improve the effectiveness of safety and health management
programs in construction and increase their use in the industry. (5 IG 24 R/R2P)
SG Improve understanding of how construction industry
organization factors relate to injury and illness outcomes; and increase
the sharing and use of industry wide practices, policies, and partnerships
that improve safety and health performance. (7 IG 22 R/R2P)

19. Resulting goals SG 11.0 – Increase the recognition and awareness of
construction hazards and the means for controlling them
through broad dissemination of quality training for construction
workers, including non-English speaking workers. (4 IG, 13 R/R2P)
SG Increase understanding of how vulnerable worker groups
experience disproportionate risks in construction work and expand
the availability and use of effective interventions to reduce injuries
and illnesses among these groups. (3 IG, 13 R/R2P)
SG 13.0 – Increase the use of “prevention through design (PtD)”
approaches to prevent or reduce safety and health hazards in construction.
(5 IG, 13 R/R2P)
SG Improve surveillance at the Federal, State, and private
level to support the identification of hazards and associated illnesses and
injuries; the evaluation of intervention and organizational program
effectiveness; and the identification of emerging health and safety
priorities in construction. (3 IG, 14 R/R2P)

20. Key issues Currently in process of finalizing goals
Getting intermediate goals right is key
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT
ACTIVITIES AND SOLUTIONS THAT
WILL LEAD TO ACHIEVING
STRATEGIC GOALS?
Developing Performance Measures
is challenging
Participation and partnering needed
to achieve goals

21. Encouraging Research on the NORA goals
NORA National Agenda NIOSH Construction Program Review Recommendations
As main input to:
Next 5 year Cooperative Agreement RFA (late 2008)
NIOSH intramural construction goals and guidance
Partner research using NORA goals
Driving research direction from
Here is a quick look at our plans for the upcoming decade…..divided up into three broad activity categories.
I have used a timeline to help visually portray the directions we want to go in….….
For research….
We plan to use the NORA National Agenda and the National Academies Construction Program Review recommendations as input for finalizing our
NIOSH goals, and for our next 5 year cooperative agreement ---due out in late 2008…
This in turn will drive our research over the next five years NA
input
RFA and intramural guidance
NORA 2 generated research
NORA
Agenda

22. International Collaboration
How can international collaboration on common construction goals/priorities be encouraged?
Can we encourage more development of R2P products based on research results originating from other countries? How?
What are best practices for national strategic planning?
What is the best way to engage the industry to meet national goals?

23. Thanks for any comments and suggestions!23
Thanks for any comments and suggestions!
NORA Construction Sector webpage
NORA Construction Sector News
construction/NORAconstNewsV1N1.html
NORA National Construction Agenda
NIOSH eNEWs
NIOSH Home Page:

24. Contact information
Matt Gillen
NIOSH/CDC
Construction Program Coordinator
NORA Construction Sector Council Co-Chair
395 E St SW
Washington, DC

25. Supplemental slides – additional goal detail
Strategic goals for Health
SG 4 – Noise/Hearing Loss
SG 5 - Silica exposures and illnesses
SG 6 - Welding fumes and associated illnesses
These three share a common template

26. Side by Side look at Intermediate Goal 1
IG NOISE
Develop a baseline on current noise control and hearing loss practices in construction
IG SILICA
Develop a baseline on current silica control practices and programs in construction.
IG WELDING
Develop a baseline on current welding control practices and programs in construction.

27. Side by Side look at Intermediate Goal 2
IG NOISE
Increase awareness about noise hazards and solutions among workers, contractors, owners, and suppliers.
IG SILICA
Increase awareness about silica hazards and known solutions among construction workers, contractors, owners, and suppliers
IG WELDING
Increase awareness about welding fume hazards and known solutions among construction workers, contractors, owners, and suppliers

28. Side by Side look at Intermediate Goal 3
IG NOISE
Increase the availability and adoption of quieter tools and equipment in the construction industry via research and implementation of a “Buy Quiet”
campaign.
IG SILICA
Increase the availability of engineering and work practice options for reducing silica exposures
IG WELDING
Increase the availability of engineering and work practice options for reducing welding exposures.

29. Side by Side look at Intermediate Goal 4
IG NOISE
Develop and promote the use of model programs and practices by construction owners, governmental groups, professional groups, and best practice employers.
IG SILICA
Develop model practices and programs and promote their use by construction owners, governmental groups, professional groups, and best practice employers.
IG WELDING

30. Side by Side look at Intermediate Goal 5
NOISE
IG SILICA
Evaluate hazard and exposure assessment research gaps associated with silica in construction
IG WELDING
Evaluate hazard and exposure assessment research gaps associated with welding fume in construction

31. IG 6.4 – Develop model practices and programs and promote their use by construction owners, governmental groups, professional groups, and best practice employers. (Goals continue on next page)
RG – Portable health testing program component - Develop, evaluate, and promote “portable” (that is, transferable from one employer to another) options for respirator fit testing to include key information such as fit-certified respirator models, respirator training records, respirator medical evaluations, and welding fume related medical testing that can be maintained for workers as part of a health surveillance program across multiple employers. Develop and disseminate guidance on suitable welding medical surveillance approaches.
RG – Emission factor and field screening component - Evaluate the feasibility and use of 1) welding “emission factor” data and 2) available direct reading field instruments, for use in a construction-user friendly system to provide pre-job exposure estimates for safe job planning.
RG – Welding fume exposure database component - Develop and promote the use of a welding fume exposure task database that can be used by safety and health professionals, contractors and competent persons for pre-job exposure estimation and for planning the use of controls.

32. IG 6.4 – Develop model practices and programs and promote their use by construction owners, governmental groups, professional groups, and best practice employers. (Goals continued)
RG – Pre-job planning component – Develop, evaluate, and promote a straightforward 3-5 step pre-job welding fume hazard review/plan that can be used by competent persons to estimate and plan for project-specific welding exposure hazards.
RG – Policy driver component - Improve understanding of the economic and policy factors that support or discourage the use of model programs and practices for welding fume control in construction.
R2PG – Develop demonstration projects to evaluate the effectiveness of program components and practices in addressing needs of key construction stakeholders. Incorporate results into guidance on model practices and programs.
R2PG – Partner with construction stakeholders and groups to promote the use of model programs and practices by construction owners and best practice employers of all sizes throughout the industry.

33. SG1.0 - Reduce Construction Worker fatalities and serious injuries caused by falls to a lower level
IG Identify the top three fall-related problems requiring technical engineering solutions and develop and evaluate options to fill these gaps.
IG1.2 - Expand awareness and use of existing effective fall prevention and protection solutions by construction employers and workers
IG1.3 - Expand the use of “safe-by-design” practices for fall prevention via demonstration projects and guidance.
IG1.4 - Develop and implement a national campaign to reduce fatal and serious injuries associated with construction falls to a lower level.

34. IG Partner with construction stakeholders and safety professionals to identify the top three fall-related problems requiring technical engineering solutions and develop and evaluate options to fill these gaps.
RG – Inventory existing fall protection technologies and identify three gaps where technical engineering guidance needs to be developed or modified further for fall protection.
RG – Develop and evaluate engineering interventions and guidelines to address the three fall protection gaps.
R2PG – Disseminate these solutions and guidelines throughout the industry

35. IG Partner with Construction stakeholders to expand awareness and use of existing effective fall prevention and protection solutions by construction employers and workers
RG – Work with insurance companies and consultation organizations to identify small contractor implementation obstacles associated with existing fall prevention and protection measures.
RG – Develop additional protective and cost effective solutions
R2PG – Develop simple pre-job planning tools for use by small and medium size contractors to improve identification of the most common fall hazards and solutions.
R2PG – Partner with construction stakeholders to disseminate widely.
R2PG – Utilize existing information about fall prevention and protection solutions to develop and disseminate trade- specific materials for the major categories of falls from heights associated with fatal and serious injuries to include awareness materials, implementation guidance, business case studies, and training materials in paper and electronic media.

36. IG Partner with architects, engineers, and construction organizations to expand the use of “safe-by-design” practices for fall prevention via demonstration projects and guidance.
RG – Identify and evaluate 3 existing “safe by design” practices that address falls to lower levels and develop case study materials.
RG – Identify and evaluate 3 new “safe by design” practices that address falls to lower levels and develop case study materials.
R2PG – Partner with OSHA, international construction groups, professional societies, trade associations and unions, architect-engineer-and-designer firms, and insurance companies to disseminate case study materials and to expand the use of safe by design approaches
R2PG – Within 6 years, document effectiveness of implementation of these safe-by-design practices.

37. IG Work with construction partners to develop and implement a national campaign to reduce fatal and serious injuries associated with construction falls to a lower level.
RG – Evaluate the potential for a “National Construction Fall Prevention Campaign” by assessing: 1) the components and effectiveness of U.S. campaigns on related public health injury topics; and 2) the components and effectiveness of internationally based campaigns on construction injury topics. Prepare a proposal for a U.S. campaign.
R2PG – Convene a meeting of construction stakeholders and industry leaders to discuss a proposal for a U.S. ”National Construction Fall Prevention Campaign”. If support is provided, develop an action plan for implementation.
R2PG – If support is provided, implement the action plan in conjunction with construction industry stakeholders and evaluate the resulting impact.