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Last week NABTU and CPWR published the fourth issue of our newsletter to help the construction industry prevent suicides and deaths from opioids -- REASON (Resources and Effective programs Addressing Suicides and Opioids Now). Each issue of REASON provides solutions, important research, and free resources that highlight these issues and the positive steps being taken to address them. Read past issues and subscribe now.

CPWR Highlights Published

CPWR has just released the 2024 edition of our annual report, Highlights. The section on our research program describes both projects supported as part of our previous five-year cycle as NIOSH’s National Construction Center and outlines the new projects that have just began with our selection to continue as the Center for another five years. Highlights also documents the work of our Training Programs, which reached more than 80,000 workers, and the Building Trades National Medical Screening Program, which again received a 100% satisfaction rating from the former workers at Department of Energy nuclear sites, who received more than 2,000 medical screenings and 1,200 CT scans. 

Three New Studies Examine Suicide and Overdose Prevention

Last year CPWR invited experts and industry leaders to propose research projects examining approaches to preventing suicide and opioid overdose among construction workers. After a rigorous selection process, five studies were funded by CPWR thanks to an unrestricted private donation. These projects focus on research and action-oriented efforts that are contributing to the science behind suicide and opioid overdose prevention in the construction sector. Three of the projects have now issued their final reports:

• University of Iowa epidemiologist Dr. Jonathan Davis explored the Impact of Employment Laws on Construction Worker Suicide by analyzing publicly available data on state “paid-leave” policies and suicide rates to understand how employment laws and community-level factors influence suicide rates among construction workers.
• Consultants from MDB, Inc. and representatives of Local 1 of the International Union of Elevator Constructors worked together to gather the lessons from Scaling Up Union-Based Peer Support Programs.
• The Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART) Union, in collaboration with the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust, undertook a program to Expand Naloxone Access and Training for Construction Workers by piloting a naloxone training and distribution program for its members. 

The other two reports will be published in the coming months.

Two Studies from BTMed

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.

• Mortality of older construction and craft work­ers employed at Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear sites: Follow‐up through 2021. Knut Ringen, John Dement, Marianne Cloeren, Sammy Almashat, Stella Hines, William Grier, Patricia Quinn, Anna Chen, Scott Haas. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2024. Read the abstract and the Key Finding. 
• Restrictive Spirometry Pattern Among Construction Trade Workers. Stella E Hines, John Dement, Marianne Cloeren, Kim Cranford, Patricia S Quinn, Knut Ringen. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2023. Read the abstract and the Key Finding. 

Small Study Grant Funding Reopens

CPWR’s Small Study Program provides up to $30,000 to investigate promising research and practical initiatives. We are currently giving priority to studies aimed at:

• Reaching high-risk groups, including small employers (those with 19 or fewer employees), vulnerable workers, and those in residential and light commercial construction.
• Developing interventions that can be immediately applied on the job.
• Engaging stakeholders in partnerships that identify and overcome barriers to adopting good practices.
• Translating research into practice and ensure widespread dissemination.
• Promoting proven safety practices to small employers for immediate impact.

A study may be proposed at any time and we are happy to discuss ideas prior to official submission. For more information, including how to apply, visit the Small Study Program on CPWR’s website.