Mary Watters
Communications director

CPWR
Silver Spring, MD
Ph: 301-578-8500 x8523
Email: mwatters@cpwr.com

Abstract:

Construction continues to suffer unconscionably high levels of work-related illnesses, injuries, and deaths. Although construction workers are about 7% of the workforce, the 1,264 construction deaths in 2001 were about 21% of the 5,900 work-related deaths from injuries recorded by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for all industries that year. Although the number of work-related illnesses (and deaths from those illnesses) cannot be pinpointed for a mix of reasons, it is known that construction workers suffer work-related asbestos diseases, silicosis, nervous system damage, and cancers from exposures to minerals, metals, solvents, and other toxins. A key way to change the conditions is through development of an industrywide "safety culture," in which workers, employers, and others cooperate daily to seek the most practicable ways to improve workplace safety and health. Thus, the overriding objective of the Communications Program is to produce and diffuse information- about (1) the activities of CPWR — The Center for Construction Research and Training and (2) ways to improve construction safety and health- in easily accessible form to all who are interested in the private and nonprofit sectors, academia, and government. To translate scientific findings into user-friendly form, CPWR will use these approaches:

• Produce publications geared to workers, trainers, and decisionmakers

• Reach the widest possible audience, particularly small and mid-size companies and individual workers, through publications in other organizations' magazines, use of the Internet, distributions at training courses and at meetings, and use of a portable exhibit booth at conferences

• Facilitate the creative exchange of ideas face-to-face through national and regional conferences on construction safety and health

• Provide information in all formats geared to the at-risk and underserved Spanish-speaking population.