From the Desk of Chris Trahan Cain, Executive Director | | | Musculoskeletal Disorders in Construction | | |
Construction workers have a greater likelihood of developing a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) than American workers overall due to their physically demanding tasks and work environments. The June issue of CPWR’s Data Bulletin examines MSDs by industry, self-reported pain, and use of prescription pain relievers and/or opioids. During 2021 and 2022, over 33,000 construction workers had days away from work due to an MSD. In 2022, 5.2% of construction workers reported taking prescription opioids, but for those with a musculoskeletal injury, the figure was more than a quarter (27.6%).
| | TOOLS FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH | | |
Four New Construction Chart Book Interactive Data Dashboards
The CPWR Data Center continues to add interactive dashboards to the 7th edition of the unparalleled Construction Chart Book. Dashboards on health insurance coverage, leading causes of death, minority workers, and union membership have joined two dozen others on key topics for the construction industry, such as business owners, employment and benefits, and injuries and illnesses.
Additional Resource to Improve Pre-Task Planning
Pre-Task Planning (PTP) -- conducted before each task to review the steps involved, identify hazards, and determine available controls -- can be a key part of creating safer job sites. To help contractors begin, design, implement, assess, and continuously improve their PTP process, CPWR has developed an all-in-one package that contains checklists, templates, and practical examples. Just added to these resources is a third interactive form: a Post-Task Checklist that can help identify issues that came up during a shift and support adjustments for the next day’s work. Other parts of the package include blank and sample completed PTP forms, a PTP assessment for managers, and a PTP assessment for workers.
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Participate in CPWR Heat Safety Research
The multiple efforts to develop standards to address occupational heat stress point out heat's impact on construction workers, including increased risk of traumatic injuries like falls, decreased physical work capacity, and life-threatening illness in the form of heatstroke. CPWR has begun a study to better understand the impacts of heat stress and to develop effective strategies for managing it, and we are looking for contractors to participate in the research. Learn more from this flyer.
New Studies from BTMed Examine Impact of Hearing Loss and Cancer Screenings
CPWR’s Building Trades National Medical Screening Program (BTMed) provides free medical screening exams to construction workers formerly employed at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear sites, since they may be at increased risk for occupational illnesses. BTMed also researches program participants’ health outcomes, both to improve service to them and to guide safety and health interventions for construction workers overall.
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Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening in Occupational Health Surveillance Exams is Associated with Decreased CRC Mortality. Marianne Cloeren, John Dement, Kian Ghorbanpoor, Sammy Almashat, William Grier, Patricia Quinn, Kim Cranford, Anna Chen, Scott Haas, Knut Ringen. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2024. Read the Key Finding and the abstract.
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Hearing Loss is Associated with Increased Mortality in a Cohort of Older Construction Trades Workers. John Dement, Knut Ringen, Marianne Cloeren, Sammy Almashat, William Grier, Patricia Quinn, Kim Cranford, Anna Chen, Scott Haas. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2024. Read the Key Finding and the abstract.
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Tuesday, June 17 at 1:00 p.m. ET (1 hour)
New Research on Mental Health & Construction Part 2
CPWR is committed to addressing the suicide and overdose trends in the construction industry through both research and action. As part of our plan to drive change and save lives, we funded five small research studies, all of which are now available. The first three studies published were covered in a March 25th webinar, available on-demand. The last two studies will now be covered in a similar webinar on June 17th.
Professor Behzad Esmaeili and his team from Purdue University will cover suicide prevention for ironworkers and share what they’ve learned about employer-led suicide prevention and the effectiveness of two suicide awareness trainings created by LivingWorks, a suicide prevention and intervention training company. Professor Bradley Evanoff of Washington University in St. Louis, will then share the findings from his study, Peer Support Programs to Promote Mental Health Among Construction Workers. Dr. Evanoff and his team evaluated two peer support programs implemented in the St. Louis area -- one carried out by the Construction Laborers Health and Welfare fund, and the other by a local construction firm, the Tarlton Corporation. After the presentations, there will be some time for Q&A with our panelists. Feel free to submit questions in advance through the registration link below.
Moderator: Chris Trahan Cain, CIH, Executive Director, CPWR
Panelists:
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Behzad Esmaeili, PhD, Associate Professor of Civil and Construction Engineering & Joint Appointment with Industrial Engineering, Purdue University
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Bradley Evanoff, MD, MPH, Professor of Occupational, Industrial, and Environmental Medicine, Assistant Dean for Clinical and Translational Research, and Director of the Division of General Medical Sciences, School of Medicine
Click here to register and submit questions in advance
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Safe + Sound Week Coming in August
Safe + Sound Week -- a key part of OSHA’s year-round campaign to encourage every workplace to have an effective safety and health program -- takes place August 11-17. Visit the campaign website to learn more.
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