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 March 2016 release of CDC’s Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.

They found that the percentage of patients prescribed an opioid was higher in rural than in urban areas, however significant decreases in opioid prescribing occurred across all urban-rural categories after the release of the Guideline.

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 opioids. The Alert includes information for the injured worker (“Tips for Talking with Your Doctor”) and information the worker can share with their doctor to aid in injury evaluation and pain management.

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.

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 based on the multiple causes and contributing factors.

The report, which also lists a number of relevant resources in the references, can be found in full on the OR-FACE website.

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 have a conversation with workers about fall hazards, protective methods, and the company’s safety policies, goals and expectations.  This should also be an opportunity for workers to talk to management about any fall hazards they see.

For resources and information on how to participate as we get closer to May, check out stopconstructionfalls.com.