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Trends of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Interventions in the Construction Industry
The newest CPWR Quarterly Data Report (QDR) examines trends in work and non-work related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), the soft-tissue injuries caused by exposure to repetitive or sudden motions, forces, and awkward positions. In 2017, the rate of employer-reported, work-related MSDs in construction was 31.2 cases per 10,000 FTEs, less than one-quarter of 1992’s level. However, about 30% of […]
New Best Built Plans Resources
CPWR’s Best Built Plans program (BBP) is designed to reduce the risks for manual materials handling (sprain and strain) injuries by providing contractors with resources to plan for safe manual materials handling at each project stage and to use on the job to raise awareness and reinforce safe practices. Thanks to a small group of […]
XXII World Congress on Safety & Health at Work 2020
The next World Congress on Safety and Health at Work is being held on October 4-7, 2020 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada, and the call for abstracts is open! Participants from around the world are invited to submit abstracts. The deadline for submitting abstracts is December 15, 2019. Click here to find out more and visit […]
CPWR Small Study Program Accepting Applications
CPWR is now accepting applications for funding from the Small Studies Program CPWR’s Small Study Program provides seed money of up to $30,000 to investigate promising new research initiatives. Many major research projects began with a small study to demonstrate their viability or test their approach. Other small studies have resulted in important stand-alone projects. […]
Liberty Mutual Safety Innovation Award in Construction
The new Liberty Mutual Safety Innovation Award in Construction 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. Sponsored by Liberty Mutual and administered by CPWR, the award includes a $15,000 cash prize to the winning individual or organization; in addition, […]
Arkansas Amputation Prevention Stand-Down
The Arkansas Amputation Prevention Stand-Down is scheduled for September 4 to October 4. During this event, employers and workers will take time during their workday to focus on how to prevent amputations. A public kick-off event for the Stand-Down will take place on September 4 in Bentonville, Arkansas. This event is free and open to […]
Upcoming AGC Meeting: Prevention through Design (PtD)- A Changing Mindset
PtD encompasses all of the efforts to anticipate and design out hazards to workers in facilities, work methods and operations, processes, equipment, tools, products, new technologies, and the organization of work. The focus of PtD is on workers who execute the designs or have to work with the products of the design. The initiative has […]
Fatal falls in construction: Total deaths rise, but rate falls, report shows
The National Safety Council just published an article in Safety + Health Magazine highlighting CPWR’s recent Quarterly Data Report on Trends of Fall Injuries & Prevention in the Construction Industry. The number of fatal falls to a lower level among construction workers increased from 2011 to 2017 – reflecting a surge in employment – although […]
U.S. Department of Labor Cracks Down On Employee Exposure to Carbon Monoxide
An article published August 13, 2019 by Occupational Health & Safety explains that this silent toxin is both colorless and odorless, and exposure to it is often deadly. That’s why the U.S. Department of Labor does not take carbon monoxide (CO) matters lightly. One seemingly minor slip-up can have detrimental and hazardous effects. As one […]
3M Fall Protection Recall
On July 25th, 2019 3M Fall Protection announced an immediate stop use and product recall of the 3M™ DBI-SALA® Twin-Leg Nano-Lok™ edge and the Twin-Leg Nano-Lok™ Wrap Back Self-Retracting Lifeline. These Twin-Leg Nano-Loks are used as part of a personal fall protection system that connects two self-retracting lifelines/devices (SRLs/SRDs) directly under the dorsal D-ring of a worker’s harness. […]
Safe + Sound Week is August 12-18 – Registration Now Open!
Join OSHA, CPWR, and many other safety & health organizations for Safe + Sound Week, August 12-18, 2019! Register now at https://www.osha.gov/safeandsoundweek/ to let us know you’re participating and to stay current on Safe + Sound resources. Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace health and […]
June 26th: National Safety Month Webinar
In honor of National Safety Month, NSC is hosting the following webinar on June 26th at 2:00pm Eastern: Injury Facts: Data You Can Count On Join Ken Kolosh, NSC Statistics Manager and the creator of Injury Facts – a free resource featuring interactive charts and graphs (injuryfacts.nsc.org), as he walks you through the website providing […]
NIOSH Science Blog: Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
According to a recent blog post from the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), the opioid overdose epidemic continues to claim lives across the country with a record 47,600 overdose deaths in 2017. The crisis is taking an especially devastating toll on certain parts of the U.S. workforce, such as construction, which has […]
June is National Safety Month!
The National Safety Council has been leading National Safety Month since 1996. This annual effort focuses on reducing leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road, and in homes and communities. National Safety Month is more pertinent than ever as unintentional injuries have become the third leading cause of death in the […]
Summer, Construction, Distraction: A Lethal Combination in Work Zones
A new blog post from the National Safety Council highlights the dangers construction workers face when doing road and highway work. While these types of jobs are dangerous year-round – construction workers account for 10% of nonfatal pedestrian vehicle incidents and 19% of all fatal pedestrian incidents – the increase in both summertime traffic and construction zones […]
NEW! A to Z Index Feature on CPWR.com
CPWR’s main website is an excellent source of information ranging from key findings from research, training programs and materials, dissemination planning and r2p tools, and much more. In order to make the site easier to navigate, and materials easier to find, we have recently added an A to Z Index feature. Check it out, and […]
Safety Takes Teamwork – Letting Young Workers Know They Can Ask For Help
The ability to work as part of a team is one of the most important skills in today’s job market. Likewise, teamwork can make the workplace a safer environment for every employee. For example, jobs that involve lifting heavy or awkward objects are better done in a team. Overexertion is the third leading cause of […]
Preventing Injuries Among Young Workers
Many workplace accidents are preventable! Being struck by an object, caught in a piece of equipment, or caught in collapsing materials are the second leading cause of young worker injury. Learn more at https://www.nsc.org/work-safety/safety-topics/struck-by-objects. Parents, make sure your child is aware of their surroundings and knows how to prevent injuries at their summer job. Employers, […]
On-Demand Webinar: What Happens After a Fall is Arrested?: Suspension Trauma and the Importance of Having a Rescue Plan
Originally presented on Thursday, June 27th, 2019 at 1:00pm EST by: Mike Kassman, Training Specialist, CPWR – The Center for Construction Research & Training Chad Riddleberger, Captain and Technical Rescue Team Lead with Roanoke Fire-EMS, Adjunct Instructor with VA Department of Fire Programs, and Instructor with Spec Rescue International Even when contractors and workers take […]
Empowering Young Workers to Speak Up About Safety
Being young and new to a job can be an advantage – young workers bring fresh eyes and may see safety and health hazards others miss. Empowering them to speak up about what they see may save lives! Parents should be aware when their children start new summer jobs. Encourage your children to trust their […]
Every Job Has Hazards – Especially For Young Workers!
Every minute, one young worker under 25 is injured at work. The scenarios on this activity page can be used by parents to help children prepare for being safe on the job, or by employers as a training activity – http://youngworkers.org/injuries/hazards/hazards-activity-page/. Employers, especially, have a responsibility to point out hazards, give clear instructions for each […]
Safe + Sound “Take 3 in 30” Challenge
Management leadership is a core element of a workplace safety and health program. Accelerate your program and show your commitment in your workplace. Take 3 in 30! Here’s how you do it: 1. Take 3 actions in 30 days There are lots of ways to accelerate your program! Choose from our list or pick one […]
Keeping Youth Safe at Summer Jobs
Attention Parents! Is your child looking for a summer job? Make sure they are aware of their rights and responsibilities as a young worker. They can’t be fired for reporting an injury, a workplace hazard, or other safety problems. They also have the right to: Be trained in a language they understand Work on machines […]
Safety Pays, Falls Cost
According to Liberty Mutual, workers compensation claims for non-fatal falls leading to more than 5 days away from work cost the construction industry $3.85 billion in 2016! Join the National Campaign to stop falls in construction at stopconstructionfalls.com. Click the image below to download a PDF version:
Safe + Sound 2019
OSHA’s Safe + Sound Campaign is back for its third year in 2019. The Campaign and associated Safe + Sound Week represent a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the value of workplace safety and health programs. These programs can help employers and workers identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness, […]
New Safety Stand-Down Materials
Several new products and resources have been added to stopconstructionfalls.com in preparation for this year’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls. Everything you need to conduct a Stand-Down can be found on our new One-Stop Shop page, but we’ve highlighted some of the new pieces below: Written Fall Protection & Rescue Plan – Developing and implementing […]
WWDPI Webinar: Safety and Health Among Older Construction Workers in the United States
March 20th, 2019 at 11am PST, 2:00pm EST. The labor force in the United States is rapidly growing older. Older workers are more vulnerable to risks at worksites due to possible declining cognitive and physical abilities with age. Therefore, this trend of an aging workforce is a significant challenge for occupational safety and health as […]
New Video: Safe Ladder Practices in Roofing
Falls are a leading cause of injury and death. This video – developed by the Roofing r2p Partnership (National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and the United Union of Roofers and Waterproofers & Allied Workers, and CPWR) – focuses on ladder safety during roofing work and shows how the free National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) […]
PEPH Podcast: Opioids and Worker Health
Partnerships for Environmental Public Education (PEPH) interviewed CPWR’s Chris Trahan Cain about the significant risks that opioids pose to worker health and safety, and how different agencies and nonprofit organizations are working to address these concerns. Listen at: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/translational/peph/podcasts/2019/jan24_opioids/index.cfm.
NAHB gears up for 2019 Falls Safety Stand-Down with Fall Protection Training for Residential Construction
The National Association of Home Builders’ Fall Protection training program will help employees and employers identify and avoid fall hazards encountered during home building operations, the prevention of falls, solutions to protect against and arrest falls, and the rescue of a fallen worker. Participants will be able to: Recognize common fall hazards in residential construction. […]
Webinar: Fatality Rates in Construction Vary 3-Fold: Do OSHA and Workers’ Compensation Play a Role?
Originally presented on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 – 12pm EST by: Wayne B. Gray, Professor of Economics, Clark University and Executive Director, Boston Federal Statistical Research Data Center, and John Mendeloff, Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh This 30 minute webinar describes the variation in construction industry fatality […]
Working in Cold Weather
Working outside in cold, wet, icy, or snowy conditions can lead to serious health problems such as hypothermia and frostbite. CPWR maintains a list of resources containing information and handouts on working safely in cold weather. View at: https://www.cpwr.com/research/working-in-cold-weather
CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on Opioid Prescribing Rates
The CDC recently published the article, Opioid Prescribing Rates in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Counties Among Primary Care Providers Using an Electronic Health Record System — United States, 2014–2017, in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The authors looked at differences in prescribing rates among six urban-rural county classifications across the US before and after the […]
Physicians’ Alert: Pain Management for Construction Workers
Opioids are often prescribed to help manage pain. CPWR’s Physicians’ Alert: Pain Management for Construction Workers was developed to help ensure that all construction workers who visit a doctor or other healthcare provider because of pain from an injury are aware of treatment options and understand the potential risks of addiction associated with using prescription […]
Best Built Plans featured in CFMA Building Profits
The Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) recently published an article written by CPWR’s Eileen Betit that highlights the cost of overexertion injuries in the construction industry and describes the Best Built Plans program aimed at helping the industry engage in materials handling practices that are good for business and safer for employees. Read more at http://www.cfmabponline.net/cfmabp/20180910?pg=17#pg17.
OR-FACE Trench Collapse Fatality Investigation
The number of trenching fatalities has greatly increased over the last few years, making it a priority area for those in construction safety and health to address. The Oregon Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program (OR-FACE) recently published a report on the investigation of a fatality resulting from a trench collapse, which contains 7 prevention recommendations […]
6th Annual Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls to be held May 6-10, 2019
The 6th annual National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls will take place the week of May 6-10, 2019. The Stand-Down was conceived by OSHA in 2014 as part of the National Falls Campaign to raise awareness surrounding the severity of fall hazards in construction and the importance of preventing them. It’s an opportunity for employers to pause work and […]
A Social Network Analysis of The National Fall Prevention Campaign
The National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction was started in 2012 by OSHA, NIOSH, and CPWR, with the addition of the annual Safety Stand-Down occurring in 2014. Since that time, thousands of companies have instituted or improved their jobsite fall prevention programs, and millions of workers have paused work during a Stand-Down to learn more about […]
Measuring the Effectiveness of Toolbox Safety Training
Via the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) — A key to improving the safety and health of construction workers is ensuring that they are trained to understand and identify the hazards associated with their work so that they can be mitigated or eliminated. Toolbox Talks are one widely used training tool wherein workers participate in […]
Construction Noise Infographic
Over thirty million construction workers are exposed to hazardous noise conditions on a regular basis. In honor of National Protect Your Hearing Month this past August, BigRentz created an infographic that compares common construction noise to everyday sounds to put the risk of loud noise into perspective. It also highlights exposure limits for construction tasks […]
Fatal Electrical Injuries of Contract Workers
Electrocution is a significant cause of fatal injuries at work. This report from the National Fire Protection Association examines fatal work injuries of contract workers between 2012 and 2016. Due to the growth of temporary workers in the labor force in recent years, there has been substantial attention in recent years to special health and […]
CPWR Call for Data – Silica and Noise
CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training has recently developed a new website called the Exposure Control Database. This online tool helps construction health and safety practitioners predict worker exposure to four major hazards including silica, noise, welding fumes, and lead based on a combination of work factors like task, tool, and material. […]
OSHA reminds us to be prepared in the face of coming hurricanes
In preparation for the multiple tropical storms, typhoons, and hurricanes that are currently active in the Pacific Ocean (Typhoon Mangkhut, Hurricane Olivia, and Tropical Storm Paul) and Atlantic Ocean (Hurricanes Florence, Isaac, and Helene), OSHA reminds everyone of their Hurricane Preparedness and Response Webpage, which outlines several links on preparedness and response and recovery. OSHA’s Worker Safety […]
New Silica Resources
In August, OSHA released updated FAQs and other resources to help employers and workers understand the requirements under the Silica Standard for the Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926.1153). CPWR has added these materials to the Work Safely with Silica website and planning tool, and updated the tip sheet, “Table 1 – Equipment Names and Best Practice […]
Annotated Bibliographies on 16 Different Topics in Construction Safety and Health
Conducting a literature review? Looking for past research on a specific hazard? Before you dig any further, check out CPWR’s collection of Annotated Bibliographies. Organized by topics such as Asphalt, Falls, Prevention thru Design, and Older Workers, each bibliography provides a comprehensive list and overview of available interdisciplinary research published in that area. Access the […]
CPWR Recorded Webinar: WAIT, WHAT? Construction Safety Materials that Everyone Can Understand
Originally Presented on Thursday, August 23rd by: Clayton Sinyai, Communications Research Manager, CPWR Are your construction safety and health handouts and training materials getting the point across to your readers? CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training has used lessons from health communications experts to review more than 100 handouts, brochures and pamphlets […]
New OH&S Magazine Article: Take Matters into Your Own Hands: Understanding Hand Injuries in the Workplace
Hand injuries including cuts, strained muscles and tendons, damaged nerves, skin disorders, and burns can impact the quality of work, productivity – and even end careers. According to the Occupational Safety & Health article, the BLS states that over 1 million workers are sent to the emergency room with hand injuries each year, but they […]
OSHA Region 6 Partners with Local Organizations to Host Houston Area Conference & Find Solid Safety Solutions
OSHA’s Region 6 is hosting the second biennial OSHA Construction Safety and Health Conference on September 13-14, 2018 in Houston, Texas. While Region 6 is hosting the event, it is open to anyone around the country with an interest in construction safety and health. Attendees will learn about new safety products, processes, and technology in […]
CPWR Recorded Webinar: Best built plans: preventing injury & improving productivity by reducing manual materials handling
Manually lifting and moving heavy materials on job sites can result in strain, sprain, and related soft tissue injuries. These types of injuries cost businesses billions of dollars and are a leading cause of disabling injuries in the construction industry. CPWR’s new Best Built Plans program responds to this issue by providing contractors and workers with practical tools and […]
Free Safe + Sound Hardhat Stickers Available
OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week may be over, but the Campaign is continuing all year long. To learn more visit https://www.osha.gov/safeandsound. To order free hardhat stickers to use during your Campaign efforts, please complete this form.
Older Construction Workers at Increased Risk for Hearing Loss: Study
A new article in Safety & Health Magazine focuses on results from a CPWR study on hearing loss looking at Building Trades Medical Screening Program data from more than 19,000 workers previously employed at Department of Energy nuclear power sites. The researchers found that 58 percent of the former construction workers had some form of hearing loss and, […]
NFPA Report: Non-Fatal Electrical Injuries at Work
Electrical hazards are a potential source of injury to workers in a wide array of work environments. Occupations that routinely involve electrical work are the most obvious populations at risk for electrical injury, but virtually any environment that utilizes electrical equipment or is conducted near electrical installations may involve exposure to hazardous energy. This report […]
New Noise & Hearing Loss Training Program
Hearing loss is a serious problem for workers in the construction industry, with three out of every four construction workers being overexposed to noise on a jobsite. In order to understand more about noise exposure and hearing loss prevention, CPWR used its Trainers and Researchers United Network (TRU-Net) to conduct multi-trade surveys of trainers and […]
NFPA Report: Fatal electrical injuries at work
Occupations that routinely involve electrical work are the most obvious populations at risk for electrical injury, but virtually any environment that utilizes electrical equipment or is conducted near electrical installations may involve exposure to hazardous energy. This report from the National Fire Protection Association provides an overview of fatal electrical injuries at work in 2012-2016. […]
CPWR’s 6th Edition Chart Book is Now Available!
The sixth edition of The Construction Chart Book – The U.S. Construction Industry and Its Workers continues to present the most complete data available on all facets of the U.S. construction industry: economic, demographic, employment/income, education/training, and safety and health issues, plus much more all in one place. This NEW edition not only offers on-demand access to the charts […]
Construction PPE for the Female Workforce
One of the challenges facing women in the construction industry is finding personal protective equipment (PPE) that fits properly. Oversized protective clothing can lead to tripping hazards or get caught in machinery and result in a serious injury. Poorly fitted fall protection harnesses may lead to other injuries or may not be effective in the […]
NIOSH Sound Level Meter App
The NIOSH Sound Level Meter mobile application is a tool to measure sound levels in the workplace and provide noise exposure parameters to help reduce occupational noise-induced hearing loss.
On-Demand Webinar: Tools for a Successful Workplace Safety & Health Program
Presented by: Safe+Sound – Andrew Levinson, Deputy Director, OSHA Directorate of Standards & Guidance FSL – Linda Goldenhar, Director, Evaluation & Research, CPWR S-CATsc – Tom Shanahan, Vice President of Enterprise Risk Management, National Roofing Contractors Association, and Keith J. Vitkovich, Executive Director, Roofers & Waterproofers Research and Education Joint Trust Fund CPWR is proud […]
New Research Findings: Applying Prevention through Design (PtD) to Solar Systems in Small Buildings
Researchers interviewed workers, contractors and engineers who install solar systems on small buildings to identify choices during the design process that can reduce worker exposure to injury during construction.
OSHA’s Safe Workplace + Sound Business Campaign Enters Year Two
OSHA’s Safe + Sound Campaign encourages every workplace in the US to have a safety and health program that includes management leadership, worker participation, and a proactive approach to finding and fixing hazards. Visit their website, or those of other Campaign organizers like CPWR, for useful resources.
New Report: Safety Management in the Construction Industry 2017
A new report from Dodge Data & Analytics summarizes the impact of new technologies on safety in the workplace and how those safety investments benefit contractors.
Updated: Foundations for Safety Leadership Course
The newly updated 2.5-hour Foundations for Safety Leadership (FSL) module fills a long-standing need to provide leadership skills training.
New guide for the successful incorporation of safety and health into CTE programs in construction
WVU & UC Berkeley researchers recently completed a project and subsequent guide identifying elements of effective health and safety education in CTE programs.
OSHA Alliance Construction Roundtable White Paper Aims to Reach Small Contractors
New OSHA Alliance Construction Roundtable white paper, " Proposed Strategies for the Occupational Safety and Health Community to More Effectively Reach Small Contractors in Residential Construction."
OSHA Disaster Response Resources
OSHA has consolidated key resources related to worker safety and health hazards and protective measures in disaster response and recovery efforts in these resources.
On Demand Webinar: Protecting Workers in Enclosed Cabs from Silica Exposure: Leveraging Research from the Mining Industry
Hear from OSHA about the requirements for enclosed cabs under Table 1 of the new silica standard, and from NIOSH on how lessons from mining industry research can help you comply.
New NIEHS & CPWR App provides resources for emergency response and hazardous waste workers
CPWR & NIEHS have produced a series of training materials for workers exposed to hazards on disaster sites, including a smart phone app for easy access to safety information.