CPWR UPDATE
From the Desk of Chris Trahan Cain, Executive Director
February 2023
Preventing Construction Falls
Each year falls cause more than 300 construction worker deaths, as well as thousands of injuries. The annual Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, to be held May 1-5, is a nation-wide, week-long event that encourages employers to pause and have a two-way conversation with workers about fall hazards, protective methods, and the company’s safety policies, goals, and expectations. Learn how to take part and download free resources -- including a written fall prevention plan, Toolbox Talks, and posters -- on the stopconstructionfalls.org website. Hardhat stickers and printed, pocket-sized Hazard Alert cards are available through our online order form.

CPWR’s newest resource for preventing falls is the Foundations for Safety Leadership for Residential Construction (FSL4Res) training. Adapted from the successful Foundations for Safety Leadership course, the FSL4Res teaches key leadership skills that frontline crew leaders and supervisors in the residential sector can use to strengthen job site safety climate. Essential safety leadership skills are taught through real-world scenarios focusing on fall risks, which cause two-thirds of job site fatalities in residential construction.
TOOLS FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH
Improve Pre-Task Planning with CPWR’s Checklist
Pre-Task Planning (PTP) -- also known as job hazard analysis, job safety analysis, morning huddle, etc. -- is a process performed before each task starts to discuss the steps of work, hazards, and available controls. To help construction practitioners evaluate and improve their PTP process, CPWR has developed a free, one-page checklist based on research findings and input from industry experts. We recently posted this checklist on cpwr.com and welcome all feedback.
 
Tool Improves Nanomaterial Safety Data Sheets
CPWR’s Nano Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Improvement Tool help manufacturers, distributors, and importers of products containing nanomaterials strengthen their SDSs. The free, highly interactive SDS Improvement Tool uses questions to evaluate an existing SDS and generate recommendations, based on authoritative guidance, regulations, and good industrial hygiene practice.
RESEARCH NEWS
Using Virtual Technology for Job Hazard Analysis. Zia Ud Din, Christiane Spitzmueller, Hardith Suvarna Murari. CPWR Small Study, 2022. Read the Key Finding and the full report.
 
Participate in a Pilot Program on Preventing Struck-by Incidents
CPWR is recruiting general and specialty contractors to participate in a pilot planning program to prevent struck-by incidents. Learn more about the free program and how to participate by watching last month’s webinar, Struck by Hazards, Barriers, and Opportunities in the Construction Industry, or by emailing Grace Barlet at CPWR. 

New Funding for Research on Prevention of Suicides or Opioid Overdoses
CPWR’s Small Study program is now seeking proposals for research projects or initiatives focused on upstream prevention of suicides and opioid-related deaths. Proposals are due February 10, 2023. Read the full RFP for more detailed information.

2022 Annual Report Available Now
The 2022 edition of Highlights, CPWR’s annual report, describes how our research, training and service staff have worked with people across the industry to improve the safety and health of construction workers. Highlights shows how, by collaborating with workers, unions, contractors, researchers, government officials, and medical experts, CPWR both continued to respond to the pandemic and addressed ongoing, crucial safety and health issues such as falls, mental health, safety culture, struck-by incidents, and technology.
 
Small Study Grant Funding Available
Our Small Study Program, which supports promising new research initiatives on improving construction safety and health, has a particular interest in studies that plan to work with and/or target small employers. We define small employers as those with 19 employees or fewer. We are giving priority to funding studies aimed at:
 
  • Reaching high-risk populations: small employers, vulnerable workers, residential and light commercial construction firms
  • Developing applicable, practical interventions
  • Engaging stakeholders, through partnerships and other means, to better understand the barriers to and motivators for adoption of best practices
  • Addressing emerging issues and exploring new technologies
  • Evaluating promising research translation products and dissemination strategies
  • Disseminating good practices to small employers
 
A study may be proposed at any time and can receive funding of up to $30,000. For more information, including how to apply, visit the Small Study Program on CPWR’s website. 
NEWS & EVENTS
Webinars
Thursday, February 23 at 2:00 p.m. ET (30 min.)
CPWR’s Safety Climate – Safety Management Information System (SC-SMIS): Update on use since January 2022
It’s been just over a year since CPWR launched the SC-SMIS website. In this webinar, hear from Linda Goldenhar, CPWR’s director of evaluation and research, about the number and location of current SC-SMIS users since the rollout and their experience using it. There will be time to ask questions about how the SC-SMIS can improve safety climate and safety management at your company.

 
Women in Construction Series
CPWR is hosting a mini-series on women in construction. You must register for each webinar individually. Live attendance is capped at 1,000 people; however, the webinars will be recorded and posted to CPWR’s YouTube channel for anyone who cannot attend.

Thursday, February 9 at 2:00 p.m. ET (1 hour)
Why We Need More Women in Construction
The series’ first session will feature four panelists -- Amber Trueblood, director of CPWR’s Data Center; Melissa Wells, special assistant to the President at NABTU; Vicki O’Leary, general organizer at the Iron Workers Union and chair of NABTU’s Tradeswomen’s Committee; and Kathleen Dobson, safety director at Alberici Constructors -- as they review current employment trends and discuss the importance of hiring women to address labor shortages and other benefits to employers and employees.

  
Wednesday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m. ET (1 hour)
Strategies to Recruit and Retain Women
Learn what inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplaces look like in the construction industry and how they can be achieved from representatives of Building Pathways, TradesFutures, the Iron Workers, the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Alberici Construction, The Building Union Diversity (BUD) program, and the University of Washington. Strategies covered will include apprenticeship readiness programs, mentorship programs, and practices such as maternity leave, inclusive PPE, sanitation, and security.

 
Wednesday, March 22 at 2:00 p.m. ET (1 hour)
Being an Ally – Improving Treatment of Women on the Job
Our final session will cover the basics of how to foster a jobsite safety climate that is welcoming to women and other minorities in the industry. Panelists from CPWR, NABTU, the Iron Workers, and others will review legal policies to ensure accountability, when and how to intervene, the benefits of anti-harassment and upstander training, and other ways to support women workers practically and directly.


Thursday, March 9 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Struck-by Injuries in the Construction Industry
Hosted by Occupational Health & Safety

This presentation will focus on struck-by injuries in the construction industry. Amber Trueblood, director of CPWR’s Data Center, will begin with a review of recent data trends from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII). Jessica Bunting, CPWR’s research to practice (r2p) director, will then share highlighted findings from the report, Struck-by Hazards, Barriers, and Opportunities in the Construction Industry -- 2022 Survey Results, along with free resources that can be used to educate both contractors and workers as part of the National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-by Incidents (April 17-21) and the National Safety Stand down to Prevent Falls in Construction (May 1-5).

CPWR in the News
Speaking Engagements
  • Linda Goldenhar, Director, Evaluation and Research, CPWR
 
March 14-18, Las Vegas -- CONEXPO-CON/AGG
March 14, 2:30 - 3:15 p.m. -- The Impact of the Infrastructure and Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) on Construction Safety
  • Bradley Sant, Senior Vice President of Safety and Education, American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA)
  • Alison Black, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, ARTBA
  • Jessica Bunting, Director, Research to Practice, CPWR
 
March 16, 2:30 - 3:15 p.m. -- Preventing Falls in Construction: What Is Being Done and What More Can We Do?
  • Elizabeth Garza, Public Health Advisor, Office of Construction Safety and Health, NIOSH
  • Grace Barlet, Research Analyst, CPWR
 
March 16, Laurel, Maryland -- 2023 Chesapeake AIHA / ASSP Educational Seminar
Time TBA – Preventing Suicides and Opioid Overdoses among Construction Workers
  • Rick Rinehart, Deputy Director, CPWR
  • Christopher Rodman, Opioid Projects Coordinator, CPWR
Career Opportunities
CPWR has openings for two positions:


Visit our Career Opportunities page for instructions on applying.

The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) is currently seeking its first Executive Director to lead the organization toward its goal of reducing suicide in the U.S. construction industry. Visit the CIASP website to learn more and apply.