CPWR researchers examining data from thousands of medical screenings conducted under the Building Trades Medical Screening program (BTMed, a long-running CPWR program benefiting construction workers formerly employed on federal nuclear sites) released important new findings on mortality and COPD risks among career sheet metal workers.

CPWR consortium researchers in Colorado demonstrated that supervisors who "walk the walk," showing that safety is their priority, can become role models and help transform everyone's attitude toward safety on the job.

Following a 2013 conference that brought together scholars, construction contractors, labor leaders, and government regulators to explore Safety Culture and Safety Climate in our industry, we produced first a pathbreaking report (Safety Culture and Climate in Construction) and then an innovative and popular workbook (Strengthening Jobsite Safety Climate) enabling builders to evaluate, score, and enhance safety climate at their own firms.

This year will see the beginning of several new research projects... 

CPWR has launched a major effort to explore how nanotechnology is transforming our industry, and what implications this holds for worker safety.  

Consortium members in California are bringing their expertise in rock and concrete drilling to a new test bench that will evaluate commercially available concrete drills, reporting on factors like noise and vibration.  

Researchers will evaluate how contractor and subcontractor prequalification based on leading safety indicators can improve safety performance.

These are just a few of the many exciting efforts moving forward in 2015. Stay tuned - and thanks for all YOU do to keep our industry's workers safe on the job!

Pete Stafford