CPWR Reports represent research findings of professors, scholars, and graduate students on a broad range of topics affecting the safety and health of construction workers and/or the general construction industry, such as training and policy matters. Most of these reports are research completed through our Small Study Grant Program.

In addition, we are making a few CPWR consortium partners’ peer-reviewed journal articles available as reprints. CPWR Reports can be accessed as PDFs (below) and can be obtained as a bound hard copy.

Proposed wording for a specification for slip-resistance on structural steel to protect ironworkers and other trades from falls; demonstrates that commercially available slip-resistant paints could meet such a standard, while commercially available portable slip meters could objectively measure compliance.

Compactor Overturns and Rollover Protective Structures. Myers, Melvin L. 2004. $7

Analyzes 58 OSHA reports of overturn-related deaths of operators of compactors (steamrollers) in 1986-2002 to learn whether a lack of rollover protective structures (ROPSs) – and failure to use seatbelts – contributed to the deaths. Recommendations include promulgation of an OSHA standard for compactors requiring the use of ROPSs and seatbelts in construction, operator-training requirements, design changes, and further safety research.

Deaths and Injuries involving Elevators or Escalators. Revised. McCann, Michael, Zaleski, Norman. 2006. $7

Analyzes data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Consumer Product Safety Commission and finds an estimated 30 deaths per year in the United States among people working on or near elevators or escalators (1992-2003) and passengers (at work/not at work) (1992-2003); recommendations include improved training, adequate inspection and maintenance programs, and the use only of qualified workers for repair maintenance.

Explosion and Asphyxiation Deaths among Contract Employees in Industrial Plants. McCann, Michael. 2003. $5

This summary, prepared for the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, finds that 91 contract employees on construction projects at industrial plans in 1992-2001 were killed by explosions or asphyxiation and recommends changes, including new training and procedures, particularly for welding.

Health Hazards to Construction Workers During the Demolition of Two Tenement Buildings. Klitzman, Susan, Mark Goldberg, and Ed Olmstead. 1994. $5

Analyzes worksite exposures to lead, dusts, and safety hazards among demolition workers.

Chart book shows fatal and nonfatal injuries treated as a result of 2,916 emergency room visits by constructionworkers. Data is organized by demographics, occupation, cause of injury, diagnosis, and injured body part to illuminate trends and to point up ways to reduce injuries in each trade.

Patterns of Deaths among Construction Workers, California 1979-81. 1993. $5

Summarizes California Department of Health Services data showing, among other things, that construction workers die an average of 8 to 12 years earlier than members of some low-risk white-collar occupations.

After analyzing data from OSHA and 23 ready mixed concrete plants in the United States, the authors identify slips, trips, and falls, impact/mechanical hazards during equipment operations, silica exposures during mixer cleanout, and other risks, then recommend a comprehensive safety and health program and other steps to prevent injuries and illnesses.

Safety Hazards to Workers in Modular Home Construction. Becker, Paul E., Mark D. Fullen, and Brandon Takacs. 2003.

$7 Analyzes video observations and questionnaires given to workers and employers on four modular home construction project and finds unique safety hazards – particularly for fall and crushing or “struck by ‘’ along with a lack of worker protections, including safety training. Accompanying video posted at http://www.elcosh.org/en/video/10/a000037/safety-hazards-to-workers-in-modular-home-construction.html

Strategies to Prevent Trenching-Related Injuries and Deaths. Plog, Barbara A., Barbara Materna, Jim Vannoy, and Marion Gillen. 2006. $5

Uses data, interviews with trenching industry and safety experts, and site visit observations to develop new ways to improve trenching safety. Recommends targeting small and inexperienced excavation companies for safety efforts.

Abnormalities Consistent with Asbestos-Related Disease among Long-Term Demolition Workers. Levin, Stephen. 1994. $5

Presents findings of Mount Sinai of Medicine study suggesting that demolition workers as a group have had significant exposure to asbestos.

Airborne Exposures and Ambulatory Peak Expiratory Flow in Drywall Finishers. Epling, Carol, Amy Gitelman, Tejas Desai, and John Dement. 1999. $5

Tests a new portable device for measuring lung exhalation among construction workers on the job and finds the approach practicable, although area sampling proves undependable in a construction setting; preliminary data suggest dust controls are needed during sanding and the relationship between air flow and drywallers’ dust exposures should be examined further.

An Assessment of Metal Maintenance Workers’ Solvent Exposures. Clark, Nancy, Harry Mounioudis, Mark Goldberg, and Walter Jones. 1997. $5

Compares fire and toxic hazard exposures to metal maintenance workers in elevators using solvent – and water – based products; finds markedly reduced fire and health risks using water-based strippers and lacquers.

Asthma in Heavy and Highway Construction Workers Exposed to Silica. Oliver, L. Christine, and Heidi Miracle-McMahill. 2003. $5

Analyzes questionnaires completed by more than 300 construction workers believed to be exposed to silica on Boston’s Big Dig in 2001 and finds more than 25% of the workers reported symptoms consistent with asthma, with higher levels for some trades and types of work – and with the asthma apparently largely undiagnosed and untreated.

Case Study: A Comparison of Occupational Exposures Among Painters Using Three Alternative Blasting Abrasives. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 3:D80-84. Meeker, John D., Pam Susi, Anthony Pellegrino. 2006. $6

Researchers offer results of their study of worker exposures to heavy metals and silica using specular hematite, coal slag and steel grit as three common methods of abrasive blasting. The project, painters working on a New Jersey footbridge, still were exposed to toxins, probably from the existing paint when it was removed.

The Effect of Debris Accumulation Upon Air Flow and Filter Resistance to Air Flow for Four Commercially Available Vacuum Cleaners. Heitbrink, William and Javier Santalla Elias. 2008.

          Researchers tested four industrial vacuum cleaners, each with a hose
          and hood that attaches to a right-angle mortar grinder, that can be
          used when removing mortar (tuck-pointing). The researchers evaluated
          the equipments’ airflow ability and the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner
          filters. 

Explosion and Asphyxiation Deaths among Contract Employees in Industrial Plants. McCann, Michael. 2003. $5

This summary, prepared for the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, finds that 91 contract employees on construction projects at industrial plans in 1992-2001 were killed by explosions or asphyxiation and recommends changes, including new training and procedures, particularly for welding.

Field Tests of a Water Induction Nozzle as a Dust Control for Abrasive Blasting. Heitbrink, William. 2007. $5

Health Hazards to Construction Workers During the Demolition of Two Tenement Buildings. Klitzman, Susan, Mark Goldberg, and Ed Olmstead. 1994. $5

Analyzes worksite exposures to lead, dusts, and safety hazards among demolition workers.

Lyme Disease, Prevalence among Construction Workers on Long Island, New York, 1996. Parkinson, David K., Angela De Vito, Raymond J. Dattwyler, Benjamin Luft, and John M. Kennedy. 1996. $5

Presents results of a pilot study of 396 construction workers, which found 13% tested positive for Lyme disease, compared with 6% of general population, suggesting outdoors workers are at increased risk and need prevention training.

Occupational Blood Lead Surveillance of Construction Workers, II: Health Programs in Thirteen States. Goldberg, Mark, Cora Roelofs, Jean Weiner, and Deborah Nagin. 1995. $5

Continuation of 1995 report recommends increased funding for occupational lead surveillance, programs targeted to construction, uniform data collection, and interagency cooperation; focuses on Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Protecting Tuckpointing Workers from Silica Dust: Draft Recommendations for a Ventilated Grinder. Heitbrink, William A., and Scott Collingwood. 2005. $5

Presents preliminary findings showing how to use an industrial vacuum cleaner, hose, and shroud attached to a grinder to reduce dangerous dust exposures for workers who remove old mortar from masonry.

Ready Mixed Concrete Truck Drivers: Work-Related Hazards and Recommendations for Controls. Nancy Clark, Jonathan Dropkin, and Lee Kaplan. 2001. $5

After analyzing data from OSHA and 23 ready mixed concrete plants in the United States, the authors identify slips, trips, and falls, impact/mechanical hazards during equipment operations, silica exposures during mixer cleanout, and other risks, then recommend a comprehensive safety and health program and other steps to prevent injuries and illnesses.

The Use of a Task-Based Exposure Assessment Model (T-BEAM) for Assessment of Metal Fume Exposures During Welding and Thermal Cutting. Susi, Pam, Mark Goldberg, Pat Barnes, and Erich (Pete) Stafford. Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 15(1):26-38, January 2000. (T-BEAM). Reprint: $5

Evaluates a task-based approach to measuring worker exposures to particulates and some heavy metals during welding and thermal cutting; finds a significant health hazard to some trades, depending on several factors; and evaluates the use of mechanical ventilation to reduce the exposures.

Unsound Conditions: Work-Related Hearing Loss in Construction, 1960-75. Waitzman, Norman J., and Ken R. Smith. 1999. $5

The first comparative multivariate analysis of hearing test data from national surveys in 1960-75 – the most current data on adults – finds both that blue-collar workers generally have more noise-induced hearing loss than white-collar workers and the rate of such hearing loss is markedly higher among construction workers compared with other blue-collar workers.

Abstracts from 1st International Symposium on Ergonomics in Building and Construction 30 June- 2 July 1997, Tampere Finland. 1997. $14 (Outside North America, $30)

Contains 59 three-age abstracts of presentations to the International Ergonomics Association triennial meeting.

A Roadmap to Diffuse Ergonomic Innovations in the Construction Industry: There is Nothing So Practical as a Good Theory. Weinstein, Marc G., Steven F. Hecker, Jennifer A. Hess and Laurel Kincl. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 13:46-55. 2007. Reprint. $6

A look at the barriers that prevent diffusion of MSDS and an approach to overcoming these barriers by targeting stakeholders who hold decision-making capabilities.

Construction Ergonomics Checklist. 1997. $2 Checklist for labor and management to use jointly to survey the worksite periodically for ergonomic hazards. Helps users develop an “eye” for ergonomic hazards on the jobsite. Covers 12 categories in 6 pages, with a summary section for prioritizing hazards and solutions.

Ergonomics and Construction: A Review of Potential Hazards in New Construction. Schneider, Scott and Pam Susi. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal. 55(7):635-49. 1994. $5

Attempts to characterize the ergonomic risks associated with each stage of construction for each craft – and what is known about minimizing the risks. Unlike other manufacturing, where there is an assembly line, many decisions related to safety in construction are left to the worker.

Ergonomics in the Construction Industry. Schneider, Scott. In: Waldermar Karwowski and William S. Marras, eds., The Occupational Ergonomics Handbook. Washington, D.C.: CRC Press, 1999, 1967-77. $5

Cover construction-related issues, including risk factors associated with different trades, exposure assessment, types of interventions, and regulatory standards.

Ergonomic Exposure Construction Workers: An Analysis of the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Database on Job Demands. Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 13(4):238-41. Schneider, Scott, Matthew Griffin, and Risana Chowdhury. 1998. $5

Uses data collected by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration on strength and other job-related requirements to show that construction poses more ergonomic problems than other work.

Reducing Sprains and Strains in Construction through Worker Participation: A Manual for Managers and Workers with Examples from Scaffold Erection. Koningsveld, Ernst A.P., Peter Vink, Isle J.M. Urlings, and Annelise M. de Jong. 1998. $5

Describes six steps for setting up a worker-participation program to identify main ergonomic problems, then propose and try solutions; examples are given for scaffold erection, based on a research project in the Netherlands.

The University of Iowa Construction Survey. Cook, Thomas M., John C. Rosecrance and Chris L. Zimmerman. 1996. $7

Examines work-related musculoskeletal disorders among 13 trades in one year: relative frequency on nine body sites, possible causes, and whether doctor visits or missed work resulted.

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Construction Bibliography. Second Edition. 1994. $10

Covers mainly the biomedical, industrial hygiene, and ergonomics literature available from online and CD-ROM bibliographic data bases. The report was prepared in October 1994 by the Department of Preventative Medicine and Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Iowa.

A Performance Goal for Construction Safety and Health. Ringen, Knut. 1995. $6

Proposes a numerical goal for reduced rates of lost-time injuries and deaths from work-related injuries for the construction industry in the United States.

Compactor Overturns and Rollover Protective Structures. Myers, Melvin L. 2004. $7

Analyzes 58 OSHA reports of overturn-related deaths of operators of compactors (steamrollers) in 1986-2002 to learn whether a lack of rollover protective structures (ROPSs) – and failure to use seatbelts – contributed to the deaths. Recommendations include promulgation of an OSHA standard for compactors requiring the use of ROPSs and seatbelts in construction, operator-training requirements, design changes, and further safety research.

The Construction Chart Book: The U.S. Construction Industry and Its Workers, Fourth Edition. 2007. $15 (Updated and expanded from 2002)

Illustrates the industry using the most complete data available on all facets of the U.S. construction industry – economic, demographic, employment/income, education/training, and safety and health – to help researchers and practitioners better understand the dynamics that fuel this vital employment sector. The book presents this information in a series of 50 topics, each with a description of the subject matter and corresponding charts and graphs.

Construction Safety Engineering Principles: Designing and Managing Safer Job Sites. Book. MacCollum, David. McGraw-Hill, 2007. 394 pages.
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Crane-Related Deaths in Construction and Recommendations for Their Prevention. McCann, Michael, Janie Gittleman and Mary Watters. Revised 2009.

Revised and updated with an expanded analysis; inclusion of secondary Source coding and keyword search increases crane deaths. An in-depth report on U.S. crane fatalities, with examples of incidents that resulted in bystander fatality or injury gathered from news reports. Using BLS construction worker fatality data from 1992-2006, the report gives eight recommendations to prevent fatalities and illnesses from occurring.

Crane-Related Deaths in the U.S. Construction Industry, 1984-1994. Suruda, Anthony, Marlene Egger, and Diane Liu. 1997. $5

Surveys 502 deaths investigated by OSHA in 11-year period and finds that, after electrocution, crane disassembly is the leading cause of death, and that OSHA had not inspected previously in 66% of the deaths.

Deaths and Injuries involving Elevators or Escalators. McCann, Michael and Norman Zaleski. Revised. 2006. $7

Analyzes data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Consumer Product Safety Commission and finds an estimated 30 deaths per year in the United States among people working on or near elevators or escalators (1992-2003) and passengers (at work/not at work) (1992-2003); recommendations include improved training, adequate inspection and maintenance programs, and the use only of qualified workers for repair maintenance.

Explosion and Asphyxiation Deaths among Contract Employees in Industrial Plants. McCann, Michael. 2003. $5

This summary, prepared for the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, finds that 91 contract employees on construction projects at industrial plans in 1992-2001 were killed by explosions or asphyxiation and recommends changes, including new training and procedures, particularly for welding.

Fatalities in the Construction Industry in the United States, 1992 and 1993. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 30: 325-30. Pollack, Earl S., Matthew Griffin, Knut Ringen, and James L. Weeks. Reprint. 1996. $5

In light of conflicting estimates of work-related death rates for construction, the authors used data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and the Current Population Survey, the computed work-related death rates for 1992 and 1993 for the construction industry and for several trades.

Is the Apparent Decrease in Injury and Illness Rates in Construction the Result of the Changes in Reporting? International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 13:39-45. Welch, Laura S., Xiuwen Dong, Francoise Carre and Knut Ringen. Reprint. 2007. $6

Inconsistencies in reported injuries and illnesses led the researchers to compare different sources of data, investigate misclassification of workers and the tendency of underreporting occupational illness in the construction industry.

Occupational Blood Lead Surveillance of Construction Workers: Health Programs in Twelve States. Goldberg, Mark, Cora Roelofs, Jean Weiner, and Deborah Nagin. 1995. $5

Finds uneven efforts to address construction worker lead exposures, with programs involving interagency cooperation the most successful; suggests steps to improve surveillance and intervention. Focuses on California, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Washington.

Occupational Blood Lead Surveillance of Construction Workers, II: Health Programs in Thirteen States. Goldberg, Mark, Cora Roelofs, Jean Weiner, and Deborah Nagin. 1997. $5

Continuation of 1995 report recommends increased funding for occupational lead surveillance, programs targeted to construction, uniform data collection, and interagency cooperation; focuses on Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Risk of Job-Related Injury Among Construction Laborers with a Diagnosis of Substance Abuse. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 40(6): 573-77. Pollack, Earl S., Gary M. Franklin, Deborah Fulton-Kehoe, and Risana Chowdhury. June, 1998. Reprint. $5

Compares injury rates for 422 laborers and finds nearly a doubled risk of serious injury on the job for younger laborers who have been diagnosed with substance abuse; most of the substance abuse involved alcohol.

Work-Related Fatal and Nonfatal Injuries among U.S. Construction Workers, 1992-2003. Dong, Xiuwen, Yurong Men, and Elizabeth Haile. 2005. $5

An update of an earlier CPWR report by Earl S. Pollack and Risana Chowdhury (2001), this report analyzes trends in rates of deaths (from injuries) and of injuries and illnesses over 12 years and finds the overall construction death rate has remained fairly constant (with a slight decrease), while the rate of reported injuries and illnesses has declined steadily. Shows trends for bricklayers, carpenters, construction laborers, electrical power installers, electricians, excavating/loading machine operators, grader/dozer/scraper operators, ironworkers, operating engineers, painters, plumbers, roofers, truck drivers, and welders/cutters.

An Analysis of Construction Accidents from a Design Perspective.
Behm, Michael. 2006. $5

Examines 450 federal agency reports of serious injuries and deaths affecting construction workers, and finds that design improvements could have reduced the hazard in the about one-third of the cases.

Compactor Overturns and Rollover Protective Structures. Myers, Melvin L. 2004. $7

Analyzes 58 OSHA reports of overturn-related deaths of operators of compactors (steamrollers) in 1986-2002 to learn whether a lack of rollover protective structures (ROPSs) – and failure to use seatbelts – contributed to the deaths. Recommendations include promulgation of an OSHA standard for compactors requiring the use of ROPSs and seatbelts in construction, operator-training requirements, design changes, and further safety research.

Investigation of the Viability of Designing for Safety. Gambatese, John A., Jimmie Hinze, and Michael Behm. May 2005. $7

Examines published reports, regulations, and the authors’ survey of 19 architects/design professionals to define needs for future research and education to improve construction worker safety and health.

A Comparison of Safety-and-Health Training of Painters in Alaska,
Oregon, and Washington. Wolford, Rod, Marilyn Larson and others. 1997. $5

Reports main findings of a three-year study, which shows Alaska’s Hazardous Painting Certification Standard is more effective in reaching a broad cross-section of painters, improved self-protective behaviors, and is less costly per painter than voluntary training in two other states.

Safety and Health Training in Construction in Kentucky. Goodrum, Paul. 2006. $5

Summarizes interviews with construction workers and development of a database of construction safety and health training resources. (The database is available from Goodrum and as part of the report posted at www.cpwr.com.)

Trainer Evaluation of a Union-based Ten-hour Safety and Health Hazard-awareness Program for U.S. Construction Workers. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 13:56-63. Sokas, Rosemary K., Leslie Nickels, Kristin Rankin, Janie Gittleman, and Christina Trahan. 2007. $6

Trainers from 14 different unions in 29 states respond to a battery of questions on hours spent teaching, trainee demographics and the types of hazards construction workers/trainees find they were exposed to on worksites.

Summarizes in-depth interviews of 47 Spanish-speaking construction workers who received Spanish-language safety training for residential construction from The Center to Protect Workers Rights in 2001; the interviews covered effects of language barriers, construction experience outside of the United States, union and non-union work experiences, outcomes of training, and ways to improve training.

Implementing Lead-Safe Work Practices for Steel Structures: Transportation Agency Policies in 12 States. Erville, Pierre. 1995. $5

Presents findings of survey on policies of 12 state departments of transportation involving worker protections during lead abatement of steel structures.  Companion survey to Mark Goldberg and others, Occupational Blood Lead Surveillance of Construction Workers: Health Programs in Twelve States (OSH2-96).

Making OSHA Inspections More Effective: Alternatives for Improved
Inspection Targeting in the Construction Industry.  Weil, David.  2004. $5

Outlines alternatives for targeting OSHA’s routine (programmed) inspections to facilitate improved construction worker safety and health, given the enforcement agency’s limited resources.  Considers targeting by – for instance – type of project, phase of construction activity, and past performance of project managers and contractors; suggests how to compare effectiveness of the proposed new approaches through pilot studies.