Summer weather creates additional safety hazards for construction workers -- heat, lightning, exposure to the sun, and more – and climate change is increasing those risks. To help workers protect themselves from heat-related illnesses and other hazards, CPWR offers a range of resources, including Toolbox Talks, Hazard Alert Cards, and infographics. Our Working in Hot Weather webpage also has collected relevant material from OSHA and NIOSH.

DPR Construction’s collaborative partnership with Canvas to pilot the latter's robotic drywall finishing tool -- featuring a sprayer system, lift station, mechanical arm, and vacuum sanding system -- has received the 2022 Liberty Mutual Safety Innovation Award in Construction for how it mitigates the riskiest aspects of drywall work. The award, now in its third year, recognizes innovative evidence-based technologies, work practices, and programs designed to reduce or eliminate hazards that lead to injuries and pain in the construction industry. Honorable mentions went to two recipients: the Studson SHK-1 Industrial Safety Helmet, which utilizes Koryod™ material to offer breathability and direct and angled head protection, as well as featuring an NFC Chip to store emergency medical information, and the RECLEAN Pilot Study, which helps construction workers reduce the likelihood of secondary lead exposures to their household. The 2023 Liberty Mutual Award will begin accepting nominations this December.

OSHA’s Safe + Sound Campaign, which encourages workplaces to have strong safety and health programs, has announced the latest Find & Fix Hazards Challenge: Eyes on Safety. Workplace inspections are an important tool for identifying hazards and resolving them. Whether you inspect your workplace on a regular basis or are just getting your workplace safety and health program started, conduct a safety walkaround to show how you have Eyes on Safety today: Take the Challenge! As in previous years, CPWR is an organizing partner in Safe + Sound.

Pain and Prescription Opioid Use Among US Construction Workers: Findings From the 2011-2018 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Xiuwen Sue Dong, Raina Brooks, Christopher Rodman, Richard Rinehart, and Samantha Brown. American Journal of Public Health, 2022. Read the Key Finding.

Psychological distress and suicidal ideation among male construction workers in the United States. Xiuwen Sue Dong, Raina D. Brooks, Samantha Brown, and William Harris. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2022. Read the Key Finding.

For more information, including how to apply, visit the Small Study Program on CPWR’s website.

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Lowell are looking for construction painters to participate in a study about minimizing exposure to hazardous Part B ingredients of reactive chemical systems used in metal structure coatings. The researchers will be visiting workplaces to conduct field surveys, monitor airborne exposures and skin exposures, and collect biological samples to measure the effects of exposure and evaluate the efficacy of personal protective equipment and engineering controls. Participants will receive a $50 gift card for donating urine before and after the shift and an additional $50 for a blood sample. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] to learn more. 

The Exposure Control Database (ECD), a free online tool that estimates your workers’ exposure to common health hazards, is expanding. If you have data that you are willing to share, please submit it to CPWR to make the ECD more accurate and reliable. If you have any questions, contact Sara Brooks ([email protected], 301-495-8532) with any questions. The following sampling forms are available to submit measurements:

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) published a guidance document in 2019 on four key health hazards in construction. Modeled after the successful OSHA Focus Four program that targets the top four construction safety hazards, Focus Four for Health raises awareness of the significant impacts health hazards can have on workers and businesses and offers practical solutions to address them. The AIHA initiative addresses: (1) manual material handling, (2) noise, (3) air contaminants, and (4) high temperatures. Learn more about the risks and hear recommendations from Barb Epstien of the AGC Oregon-Columbia Chapter, who was part of the team that developed the guidance document, and find out how CPWR’s Exposure Control Database can help contractors estimate and plan for exposure to silica, welding fumes, noise, and lead from Sara Brooks, an industrial hygienist at CPWR.

Click here to register and submit questions in advance.

Los trabajadores de la construcción que pasan el día trabajando al aire libre bajo la luz solar directa y en el calor, o en espacios cerrados y calurosos, corren el riesgo de contraer enfermedades relacionadas con el calor, como agotamiento por calor o insolación. Algunos incluso pueden morir, especialmente en esta época del año cuando las temperaturas se disparan. La buena noticia es que hay formas de proteger a los trabajadores, como implementar descansos frecuentes para beber agua y tomar sombra, capacitarse sobre enfermedades relacionadas con el calor, y aumentar gradualmente la carga de trabajo para los empleados que no tienen experiencia trabajando en el calor. En apoyo de la Campaña de prevención de enfermedades por calor de OSHA y el nuevo programa de énfasis nacional para proteger a los trabajadores de los peligros del calor, estamos realizando un seminario web para compartir información sobre el riesgo, las responsabilidades del empleador y las recomendaciones para trabajar de manera segura en ambientes calurosos.

CPWR’s webinar platform limits registration to 1,000 people. If you do not think you'll be able to attend live, please watch the recording of the webinar – all our webinars are available on-demand within a few days of their presentation.

The Opioid Crisis in the Construction Industry 

The Office of Workforce Investment (OWI) at the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration’s is hosting a series of technical assistance on the role of the workforce system in serving individuals with substance use disorders. OWI, in partnership with the CPWR is hosting a webinar on mental health and opioid conditions in the construction industry, highlighting current research and sharing evidence-based solutions. Featured speakers include Chris Trahan Cain, CPWR's executive director, and Christopher Rodman, CPWR's opioids project coordinator.

Click here to register for the webinar.

Construction Industry Confronts Drug Abuse Among Workers, Commercial Observer, 5/10/2022

Rate of fatal injuries in construction up more than 10% between 2011 and 2020: CPWR report, Safety+Health, 5/19/2022

Robust equipment, safety plan upgrades key to reducing fall fatalities, Construction Dive, 5/11/2022

CPWR has an opening for a Program Assistant. Visit our Career Opportunities page to learn more and for instructions on applying.

June 8-10, Berlin, Germany -- XXXIst International Symposium of the ISSA Construction Section, “How to Reach Vision Zero in Construction”