2009 Highlights, Is a from Exposure to Hazardous Materials at DOE Nuclear Sites Familiar Theme in the Construction Industry

Highlights 2009

beginnings endings& Contents

3 Foreword Mark H. Ayers

4 Endings Research Projects 2004–2009

15 Beginnings Research Projects 2009–2014

20 Training Preparing for Any Response OSHA Training Environmental Hazard Training Minority Worker Training

26 Service Building Trades Worker Screening Program (BTMed) Renovating eLCOSH Getting Research to Practitioners

32 Products List

33 CPWR Consortium Partners & Lead Collaborators

34 Oversight and Advisory Boards

35 CPWR Staff

ON THE COVER Endings photo: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun Fireworks explode over the Aria hotel-casino marking the official opening of the $8.5 billion CityCenter project, Dec. 16, 2009, in Las Vegas. CPWR coordinated training for more than 6,000 site workers and conducted a site safety assessment on the jobsite during 2008. In 2009, CPWR released four reports with recommendations for improving site safety. Twelve workers were killed during an 18-month building boom along the Las Vegas Strip. Six deaths occurred on the CityCenter site. Beginnings photo: istockphoto Moving the earth, making way for the foundation is the beginning of most construction projects. Foreword to Highlights 2009

“Endings and Beginnings,” the title of our 2009 Highlights, is a from exposure to hazardous materials at DOE nuclear sites familiar theme in the construction industry. We all know the cannot qualify for compensation for work-related illness. flow of a job – how one trade begins work just as another trade One worker’s dilemma was profiled in a TV news program. is finishing its job. We see the theme reflected in the schedule Read more about this and CPWR’s BTMed program beginning posted at the jobsite trailer. We see familiar faces when we start on p. 26. a job, knowing that they’re wrapping up and will soon depart. One last ending/beginning is critical, because it involves you. Perhaps the theme is best expressed by the ribbon-cutting Just as the completed building needs someone to staff and run ceremony: Workers have completed the structure that began as it, so CPWR’s research program needs people in the building a set of drawings and have connected the systems to power the trades and construction management to start where the lights, HV/AC, electronic equipment, phones, plumbing and researchers left off: putting their findings to use on our elevators. But when the ribbon gets cut, the next set of tasks jobsites. Millions of our federal tax dollars fund the research begins – leasing the space and servicing the building and its that identifies practical steps workers and contractors can take occupants. That’s illustrated by the cover photograph from to make worksites safer. Training programs, videos, Hazard Las Vegas’ CityCenter project, which opened Dec. 16, 2009. Alert cards, technical reports and more are available for free or CPWR experienced its own endings and beginnings in 2009. at low cost on www.cpwr.com. Safety managers and contractors CPWR completed its five-year national cooperative grant cycle can find supplementary handouts and toolbox talks in our (2004-2009) with the National Institute for Occupational electronic library of safety and health, www.elcosh.org. A new Safety and Health (NIOSH) and won a new five-year award online collection of safety and health photos is now available, (2009-2014). This cooperative agreement between NIOSH again at no charge. and CPWR is the centerpiece of applied research in the U.S. If you can’t find the answers to your questions, contact construction industry, which investigates the causes – and CPWR. You can be directed to experts or receive the tools prevention – of construction fatalities, injuries and illnesses in you’re seeking. Who knows, your question may inspire a our nation. In this Highlights, you’ll find a brief description of researcher to undertake a new Small Study, partnering with the research projects coming to a close and those just beginning you to find answers to the questions that led you to seek help in 2009. in the first place. In addition to its research in 2009, CPWR also submitted a Of course, not all questions have easy answers. Why must proposal to the National Institute for Environmental Health we continue to lose an average of four workers a day on U.S. Sciences (NIEHS) for funding to continue environmental construction sites? Why do aging workers and Hispanics die hazards and disaster response training. NIEHS grants will be on U.S. worksites with greater frequency than other workers? awarded in 2010. Given the caliber of programs described on And why was there no mention of the 12 workers killed in an Pages 20-25, I anticipate this work will continue for another 18-month building boom on the Las Vegas Strip when five years, maintaining CPWR’s hazardous waste and safety CityCenter opened to such fanfare? and health training operations through 2015. In addition to While I can’t answer those questions, I can assure you of this: providing expert training to our workforce, CPWR staff offer CPWR will continue working diligently to find the best ways to workshops on emerging topics, such as “green” construction – ensure the health and safety of our workforce. I ask that you do a subject of growing importance in this new decade. your part, whatever your level of responsibility, to make U.S. CPWR also assists workers formerly employed at DOE worksites the safest, most healthful, and most productive in nuclear facilities through its employment verification program, the world. supported by a grant from the Department of Labor. The grant Meanwhile, we invite you to celebrate CPWR’s “Endings and enables CPWR to search records and document workers’ DOE Beginnings” highlighted in these pages. employment. Without proof of employment, a worker sickened Mark H. Ayers President, CPWR President, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO endings2004-2009

beginnings2009-2014

3 Research

CPWR ended one five-year grant cycle and began another in 2009. With the renewed national cooperative grant, NIOSH again designated CPWR as its National Construction Center.

endingsResearch Projects 2004-2009 Analysis and Control of Crane Tracking Safety and Health Trends and Aerial Lift Hazards Training Day Laborers in Safety Blood Lead Levels and Health Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Work-Related Disease Among Disease (COPD) Risk Sheet Metal Workers Development of a “Wiki” Site Small Studies for Ergonomics Diffusion Engineering Controls for Silica beginningsResearch Projects 2009-2014 Dust and Welding Fume Evaluating Effectiveness of Construction Solutions Hazard Awareness Training Dissemination/Communications/r2p Handheld Device to Conduct Highway and Bridge Construction Electrical Inspections Drilling Improving Safety Culture through Isocyanate Exposure Effective Communication Nail Gun Injuries Ladder Falls Organization of Work Leading Edge Decking System Participatory Ergonomics National Construction Workers Survey Performance Metrics Preventing Falls Among Residential Fall Protection Residential Carpenters Safety and Health Disparities Preventing Nail Gun Injuries Safety and Health Tracking Plan Reducing Injuries Among Safety Culture/Safety Incentives Masonry Workers Silica and Noise Controls Reducing Silica and Noise Sustainable Construction Exposures during Concrete Cutting and Grinding Vulnerable Worker Training and Safety Liaisons Refining the Overhead Drilling Device Worker Health Across the Lifespan Safety and Health of Hispanic Small Studies Construction Workers

4 endings

beginnings

CPWR researchers have been seeking ways to improve worker safety and health since the first NIOSH grant award in 1990.

5 Research

in these states. The large number of construction workers with elevated BLLs underscores the need for continued endings efforts to identify, classify, and target 2004-2009 prevention efforts towards construction workers engaged in high-risk activities. Research Team: NIOSH; 28 State Research projects from the previous grant cycle Health Departments. continue to generate findings and publish results. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary The fresh approaches to fall hazards, safety culture, Disease (COPD) Risk injury and illness prevention, and reducing MSDs Lead Researcher: John Dement, PhD, Duke University can be used to make jobsites safer for years to come. Dr. Dement and his colleagues surveyed the occurrence of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) in 10,000 sheet metal Analysis and Control of Crane Blood Lead Levels workers and nearly 20,000 construction and Aerial Lift Hazards Lead Researcher: Janie Gittleman, PhD, CPWR workers who had been employed at Lead Researcher: David V. MacCollum, PE, CSP Construction workers exposed to lead on Department of Energy (DOE) sites. The A major aerial lift or crane failure occurs the job face serious health risks, including researchers collected medical screening almost every month. Most often, the inci- infertility, miscarriages, and damage to data and analyzed data on a variety of dent can be traced to equipment design the nervous system or kidneys. In the occupational factors, such as exposure to hazards, not operator error, according to early 1990s the National Institute for asbestos and silica, and personal habits research by crane safety expert David Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) such as smoking. Although COPD is often MacCollum. Mr. MacCollum, who has established the Adult Blood Lead manifested as emphysema or chronic analyzed thousands of crane and aerial lift Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) bronchitis, the lung disease is a diagnosis failures, identified five prominent hazards program to support state-based efforts given to conditions that make breathing inherent to both machines: 1) contact to collect work-related blood lead levels labored. The findings take into account with power lines, 2) overload, 3) faulty (BLLs). But a breakdown of the data spe- the health effects of smoking. or unguarded operator controls, 4) blind cifically for the construction industry was Key Findings: zones, and 5) inadequate access. not available until NIOSH contributed to a • DOE cement masons, brick masons, and Expecting crane and lift operators to special analysis of construction for 2003 plasterers had a COPD prevalence of overcome design hazards is unreasonable. and 2004 for the fourth edition of the 24.0 percent, much higher than the Instead, the focus must be on how to Construction Chart Book. overall prevalence of 15 percent among apply engineering principles to eliminate According to the analysis, construction the entire DOE study population. hazards inherent to machine design. workers accounted for 17 percent of the For instance, use of a Load Moment total cases of BLLs at or above 25 micro- • For the DOE workers, COPD risk was Indicator (LMI) alerts the operator of grams per deciliter (µg/dL), which is linked with exposure to asbestos, weld- an impending overload. Placing guards disproportionately high given that con- ing fumes, silica, and cement dust. around control panels is a simple measure struction employment makes up about 7 • The DOE data suggest that COPD risk is that can prevent inadvertent operation percent of the total workforce. Yet even also linked exposures to solvents while of the equipment. this number is probably low, due to non- fueling trucks and equipment and while According to Mr. MacCollum’s research, compliance among employers to test and mixing and applying paints. implementing engineering solutions report workers’ blood lead levels. BLLS • Sheet metal workers had an overall requires two actions: above 10 µg/dL are now thought to pose a COPD prevalence of 9.8 percent. 1. Engineers must develop a methodology serious health risk. The risk of lead expo- Welding tasks and tasks that produce that systematically identifies design sure is most acute for construction work- cement dust appear to pose the greatest hazards so engineering solutions ers engaged in building finishing, risk of developing COPD in these work- can be incorporated into the design highway, street and bridge repair, and ers; however, these analyses are ongoing of equipment. utilities. Maine, Massachusetts, New and results preliminary. 2. Equipment designers, manufacturers, York, and New Jersey had higher rates of and rental firms must partner with the elevated BLLs than other states, possibly CityCenter Site Safety Assessment construction industry to develop cost- due in part to the proportion of the Lead Researcher: Janie Gittleman, PhD, CPWR. effective and safer equipment. states’ aging infrastructure and housing In 2008, CPWR conducted a site safety stock. Another possible cause is the long- assessment of the largest private commer- standing and active surveillance programs cial construction development in U.S.

6 Preventing Falls Among Residential Carpenters Falls from heights account for 35 percent of all construction deaths. The percentage is even higher in residential construction, where falls account for nearly After going through the half of work-related deaths. For the past five years, Dr. revised training program, Bradley Evanoff and his research team at Washington apprentices increased University have worked with the Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Program (CJAP) in St. Louis to reverse their worksite safety behaviors this trend, through improved fall prevention training by 22%. Self-reported safe use programs for apprentice residential carpenters. Their early research uncovered some stark findings: of ladders increased by 50%. • More than half of surveyed apprentices knew a co-worker who had fallen from a height in 1,000 apprentices were surveyed and about 200 work- the previous year. site audits were conducted. • 16 percent had themselves fallen from a height in the past year. Key Findings: • Apprentices reported feeling more confident in their • The most common source of falls was ladders, ability both to perform work tasks at heights and to which were involved in 29 percent of falls. prevent falls from heights, as a result of the training. • Carpenters think ladders are safe! • Apprentices’ self-reported safe use of ladders in- Dr. Evanoff and the research team began the project creased by about 50 percent. by assessing the fall prevention training needs of ap- • The worksite auditors observed drastic improve- prentices through focus groups, worksite audits by re- ments in priority training areas, such as avoiding tired skilled carpenters, and a survey of more than work on the top plate of the ladder, use of warning 1,000 apprentices. They found that apprentices prefer lines to alert workers to unprotected edges, and truss to learn by doing and like to hear real-world stories setting. from experienced carpenters. The team then worked with the CJAP instructors to revise the curriculum. The • The audit data evaluated so far show that appren- new program provided more hands-on practice and tices increased their overall compliance with mea- group discussion. As part of the new training, appren- sured safety behaviors from 59 percent to 75 percent. tices built sections of a “model home,” rating the tasks Despite a decrease in the number of active appren- from least to most hazardous. In one segment, the ap- tices due to the downturn in the construction industry, prentices identified hazards and preventive measures 78 revised training courses have been delivered to a as they worked on pulling up a floor. Throughout the total of 1,038 apprentices in 2009. Still, apprentices project, the team also worked closely with leadership continue to report barriers to implementing safe be- from the Carpenters District Council and the Home haviors at the worksite, such as the specific work situa- Builders Association of Greater St. Louis. tion, time, and lack of equipment. In 2009, the researchers evaluated the revised fall The work has led to a one-year funded project from prevention training. They surveyed newly trained the Heartland Center for Occupational Health and apprentices about their safety behaviors, and arranged Safety to measure the effectiveness of fall prevention to have retired skilled carpenters conduct audits at technology at residential worksites. (See also p. 17 for sites where the apprentices worked. In all, nearly a description of the team’s new project.)

history, CityCenter in Las Vegas, and February 2009, CPWR released four com- on CPWR’s Web site and eLCOSH. The analyzed the safety climate of the site prehensive technical reports on the site CityCenter development officially opened through a survey of workers, foremen, after the reports were reviewed by Perini Dec. 16, 2009. site superintendents, and senior manage- Building Company, the general contractor Since the reports’ release, researchers ment. Selected results were published in for the project, and the Southern Nevada have used data collected to examine five the CPWR Highlights 2008. Then in Building Trades. All reports are published additional topics: differences in responses

7 Research

endings2004-2009 that promote innovations in construction controls located right at the source of ergonomics. One such applet is the the dust generation. The team is begin- masonry calculator, a program developed ning dissemination of the model specifi- to the safety climate survey by English- by the research team. The masonry calcu- cations in 2010. speaking and non-English speaking work- lator allows users to determine the cost Since OSHA passed a new hexavalent ers, evaluation of safety climate responses effectiveness of using open-ended con- chromium standard in 2006, employers across trades, characteristics of safety crete masonry units (CMU), also known have shown much more interest in behavior by trade, lessons learned from as “H-blocks,” as an alternative to the CPWR’s study of welding fume exposures open-ended survey questions, and predic- heavier closed-end CMUs, or “box-car” and the effectiveness of local exhaust vention of safety behaviors based on different blocks, typically used on worksites. tilation (LEV). The CPWR data show that organizational levels. These topics and Should Oshwiki.org prove to be an effec- workers are frequently overexposed to more will be included in an upcoming spe- tive means to diffuse new ideas about metal fumes generated from welding, cial issue of the National Safety Council’s construction ergonomics, it can easily be which can cause several debilitating dis- Journal of Safety Research focusing on con- extended to other areas in occupational eases, such as asthma, manganese-instruction due out this spring. safety and health. duced Parkinsonism, and cancer. The good Research Team: Elizabeth Haile, MS, Research Team: Jennifer Hess, PhD, news is that the team has test data show- Pete Stafford, Don Ellenberger, CPWR; University of Oregon; Sharon Garber, ing that proper use of LEV can signifi- Paige Gardner, Konsantin Petkov PhD, Consultant. cantly reduce welding fume exposures. Cigularov, PhD, Colorado State U; Matt For instance, in a study at a large pipe-fit- Gillen, CIH, Max Kiefer, CIH, NIOSH; Engineering Controls for ter training center, training welders on Mark Fullen, EdD, Wayne Lundstrom, Silica Dust and Welding Fume the correct placement of the ventilation Steve Bowers, CSP, Lisa Kane, WVU. Lead Researcher: Pam Susi, MSPH, CPWR hood reduced hexavalent chromium expo- The CPWR team investigating silica exposure during stick welding by a range of Development of a “Wiki” Site sures and dust controls using commer- 85.7 to 99.6 percent. Motivating contrac- for Ergonomics Diffusion cially available devices made a startling tors and workers to use the engineering Lead Researcher: Marc Weinstein, PhD, find: vacuums used during tuck-pointing controls is the goal of the team’s ongoing University of Oregon (now at Florida (replacing mortar between bricks) col- dissemination efforts. International University) Research Team: Mark Goldberg, PhD, In the course of their masonry ergonom- Researchers Hunter College; Robert Herrick, ScD, ics research, Dr. Weinstein and his team discovered that dust Harvard; Mike Flynn, ScD, UNC; John identified dozens of measures that likely Meeker, PhD, University of Michigan; reduce musculoskeletal disease (MSD) control vacuums David Feldshcer, retired UA Local 120. risk and injuries in construction workers. These include alternative means and collected about 120 Evaluating Effectiveness of methods of production as well as new pounds of silica-laden Hazard Awareness Training tools and equipment. Many of these inno- dust per worker in Lead Researcher: Rosemary Sokas, MD, vations are not broadly known, and University of Illinois Chicago though they appear to effectively address one day. (now at OSHA, Washington, DC) MSD risks, most have not yet been scien- Not all safety and health training pro- tifically validated. Moreover, given the lected roughly 120 pounds of silica-laden grams are equal. To learn more about large number of innovations identified dust per worker in a single day. Although what constitutes effective training, Dr. and the cost of validating each one, most such conditions pose a major health risk Sokas conducted separate surveys of will likely never be scientifically validated. to workers, few cities and regions have trainers and trainees in the construction To close this knowledge gap, the codes requiring dust controls for masonry industry. In the Web-based trainer survey, researchers developed an interactive projects. To encourage widespread union-based outreach instructors were Web site based on a “wiki” platform adoption of such codes, a CPWR/NIOSH asked to evaluate materials used in Smart (http://oshwiki.org). Oshwiki.org pro- national advisory group, led by project Mark, the OSHA 10-hour hazard aware- vides easy access to nearly 100 innova- investigator Ms. Susi and Dr. Goldberg, ness program designed for construction tions in construction ergonomics. The developed a model specification for dust workers. Participants in union-delivered wiki platform not only allows researchers control when grinding and sawing safety training completed a baseline sur- and practitioners the opportunity to com- masonry. The purpose is to protect vey and a follow-up telephone survey ment on innovations, but users can also employees, the public, the environment, three months later. directly edit, amend, and make their own and property from the harmful effects the contributions on the wiki. The wiki of dust and silica generated during work Key Findings can also serve as a platform for open- on masonry or concrete materials. The • Among 366 trainers, more than 80% source development tools (applets) model code calls for using engineering identified falls from ladders and

8 ergonomic hazards (bending, stooping, Refining the Overhead and lifting) as important concerns for their trainees. Drilling Assist Device More than one-third of trainers taught • Demand is brisk for the novel overhead workers whose primary languages were drilling device developed by Dr. David not English. Rempel and his research team. It has • Trainers estimated more positive effects become so popular that an electrical of training on safety activities under contractor plans to build enough of the workers’ control as compared with those devices to serve a workforce of up to under employers’ control. 1,600 electricians. Dr. Rempel and his • Follow-up contact with trainers may be colleagues from UCSF and Simon an indicator of training effectiveness, an Fraser University have perfected the informal means of workplace interven- design over the past five years to assist tion, or both. This concept should be construction workers with overhead further explored. drilling into concrete and metal ceil- • Of 175 trainees who ings. Such workers face many risks, participated in a base- including silica dust exposure, falls line survey, 127 were from ladders, acute injuries to the wrist bring this product to market. Now that U.S. born and 41 were when the drill seizes, and chronic mus- dream is coming closer to reality. Cu- born in Mexico. Safety culoskeletal disorders of the wrist, fore- pertino Electric, a regional contractor, knowledge and atti- arm, shoulder, and back. The device has recently invested resources in im- tude improvements enables the worker to perform the drill- proving the device design and plans to were measurable at ing from the ground without looking build many of the devices so that they three months in both groups. up, thereby reducing the high forces will be available at all of their construction sites. This electrical contractor em- • Features of both union membership and awkward postures typically applied ploys 900 to 1,600 electricians (IBEW and training may affect safety behav- during the task. Local 332). Cupertino Electric was in- iors. Further study should explore how Dr. Rempel developed and refined the device by working with building this knowledge can be applied to reduce After testing the tool, the disproportionately high rate of trades unions and contractors. The de- work-related injuries among foreign- vice has received rave reviews from many contractors have born Hispanic workers. workers, who report more comfortable asked to purchase it. postures, as well as reduced muscle Research Team: Emile Jorgenson, fatigue and hand vibration while using troduced to the device at one of Dr. MPH, Leslie Nickels, MEd, Weihu Gao, the device. Now the research team has Rempel’s presentations to the National MS, Janie Gittleman, PhD, Kristin data to validate the workers’ subjective Electrical Contractors Association. Rankin, MPH, Christina Trahan, CIH. responses. The team measured ergo- Their fabrication department has modi- Handheld Device to Conduct nomic factors such as force and mus- fied the device design and developed Electrical Inspections culoskeletal strain, with and without what they call the Upside-Down Drill device, and found that the device fre- Press. They have also developed a light- Lead Researcher: Mark Fullen, EdD, West Virginia University quently outperformed the usual drilling weight version of the device for use in Dr. Fullen and his research team wanted method. For instance, the average hand a scissor lift, called a Pogo-stick Upside to know whether conducting electrical forces measured during drilling with Down Drill Press. inspections using a handheld digital tool, the overhead device were about 10 The modified devices have received similar to a Blackberry, could improve times less than hand forces with the positive reviews by several construc- safety performance on construction sites. traditional drilling method. Another tion workers. Cupertino Electric is in- The team collaborated with CPWR to measurement showed how the device terested in working with Dr. Rempel to revise its PDA-based safety inspection reduces shoulder muscle strain and formally evaluate the two new designs software, which includes guidance on fatigue: the percent time with the on construction sites. OSHA electrical standards. A key feature shoulder flexed or abducted stretched Trials of the device have been so of the tool is its ability to generate site- to greater than 60 degrees was 21% positive that many contractors in addi- specific hazard reports for contractors. with the device, compared to 40% tion to Cupertino Electric have asked to One unionized construction worker with the usual drilling method. Also, purchase the tool. Dr. Rempel receives was selected to attend the OSHA 3090 there was significantly less head exten- an average of two enquiries a week electrical standards course and was also sion with the device compared to the about how to obtain the device. He trained on use of the handheld tool to usual method. currently works with a small tool fabri- Dr. Rempel and his research team cator who produces one or two devices have been seeking collaborators to each month. 9 Research

endings2004-2009 State University; Partners: Pipefitters practices was lacking, such as having Locals 208, 290, & 420, Mechanical hands free while climbing (46 percent Contractor Associations in Denver, compliance). The researchers concluded conduct safety inspections. This trained Portland, and Philadelphia, and that the tool offers a practical method to inspector then conducted 40 inspections Pinnacol Assurance. quantify best practices associated with between December 2008 and May 2009, ladder use that can ultimately inform during construction of a $19.4 million Ladder Falls targeted intervention efforts. four-story commercial building in Lead Researcher: Melissa Perry, ScD, Research Team: Jack Dennerlein, PhD, Parkersburg, West Virginia. Harvard University and Christopher Ronk, MS, Harvard The inspections noted 1,804 violations The construction industry experiences the University; David Lombardi, PhD, of OSHA regulations and the audit soft- largest number of deaths from ladder falls Jaeyoung Kim, MS, Liberty Mutual ware generated violation reports sorted among U.S. industries, accounting for Research Institute; Partner: Tom by contractor. In preliminary focus group 52 percent of such deaths in the period Schroeder, U.S. Consumer Product findings, electrical safety personnel and Safety Commission. the trained electrical inspector both Construction workers believed the tool-based inspections suffered 52 percent Leading Edge Decking System increased contractor accountability for Lead Researcher: Michael McCann, CPWR safety, and improved electrical safety of all ladder fall CPWR and safety consultant Dan Paine of compliance on the site. Over time, viola- deaths among U.S. Innovative Safety analyzed a fall prevention rates decreased and correction rates tion system for metal decking in steel improved. The researchers concluded that industries in the buildings designed and used by Capco safety management and perhaps safety period 1981-2003. Steel Inc., of Providence, R.I. Workers tie culture were enhanced through the use off on cables above their heads that are of this inspection tool. 1981-2003. Dr. Perry and her research secured to steel columns with pre- team aimed to curb this trend, first identi- punched holes. Ideally, the system would Improving Safety Culture through fying the circumstances leading to ladder virtually eliminate fall hazards for this job Effective Communication falls and then developing a tool for assess- with little or no loss in productivity. Lead Researcher: Peter Chen, PhD, ing ladder fall hazards on worksites. The The research took a surprising turn Colorado State University team’s ultimate goal is to develop targeted when researchers discovered problems in Dr. Chen and his research team developed ladder fall prevention strategies. preventing the cables from sagging, and field-tested programs designed to According to an initial evaluation of necessitating new engineering and testing train workers, foremen, and superinten- data from several large occupational sur- to resolve the problem. At present, dents to stop the chain of events leading veys, the researchers found that 51 per- researchers are seeking an experienced to an accident. The training emphasized cent of fall injuries occurred on step or decking crew to perform site visits and discussing worksite safety issues respect- trestle ladders and 40 percent on exten- test the altered system. Once the changes fully, sharing near misses, and providing sion ladders. In one-quarter of the cases, are completed, the planned training DVD constructive feedback. the ladder slipped out at the base or bot- and manual to aid contractors, foremen The team delivered the training at three tom, and in another 20 percent the and workers in the equipment’s installa- firms: Saunders Construction, in Denver; worker lost balance for another reason. tion and use will be completed, scheduled Temp Control Mechanical in Portland, Among identifiable underlying causes, for 2010-2011. Oregon; and Nooter Construction in improper ladder setup was most common, Philadelphia. In follow-up surveys, the accounting for 18.2 percent of cases. National Construction researchers found that knowledge and The team developed a hand-held digital Workers Survey safety communication skills were gener- tool to measure worksite compliance with Lead Researcher: Dale Belman, PhD, ally increased through the training pro- ladder use best practices. The tool con- Michigan State University gram. One contractor experienced a tained checklists in four categories: lad- The National Construction Workers statistically significant decline in the der condition, setup, moving on a ladder, Survey aims to shed light on a number of number of work-related injuries during and completing tasks from a ladder. The crucial but poorly understood aspects of the six months following the training. tool was used to conduct assessments at the construction labor force: where work- Foremen found the training boosted 18 worksites, yielding observations of ers are recruited, how they obtain train- their confidence in recognizing good 1,151 pieces of equipment used to reach ing, how their work and compensation are work, and workers reported they felt heights (stepladders, extension ladders, structured, and their work attitudes and more comfortable sharing their mistakes lifts, etc.). The sites were found to have motivations. Developed by Dr. Belman with foremen. stepladders of good quality and their set- and Dr. Janie Gittleman, the survey will Research Team: John Rosecrance, PhD, ups regularly had spreaders locked. collect representative information on April Smith, MS, and others at Colorado However, compliance with some best training, compensation, skills, educational

10 Reducing Injuries Among Masonry Workers

A masonry worker handling an average of 200 concrete masonry unit (CMU) blocks per day, weighing 38 pounds each, lifts the weight of more than five Ford F-350 pick-up trucks each week, or two and one-half fully loaded Boeing 747-100s each year. So it’s not really surprising that masonry workers have the highest rate of back injuries causing days away from work among all the construction trades. However, research by Drs. Dan Anton, Jennifer Hess and colleagues identified a variety of innovations being used around the country that show promise in reducing the risk of back injuries and other MSDs among masonry workers. The innovations fall into three categories: materials, such as H-block, lightweight block, and autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC); work practices, such as working in lift teams; and equipment, such as grout delivery systems and adjustable scaffolding. Alternative materials such as H-block and lightweight block reduce stress to the upper extremities and low back. Adjust- able height or mast climbing scaffolds can help prevent awkward back postures when used for placing work materials at optimum heights. A video of two- person teams to lift heavy concrete masonry units is The above charts illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of noted on p. 32, “Products.” various ergonomic innovations reported by masonry contractors. In a survey of masonry contractors around the country, the researchers found that the main advan- advantage for equipment such as mast climbing tage driving use of an innovation was time savings, scaffolding and mortar silos, while quality concerns followed closely by increased productivity. Improving were the greatest disadvantage for H-block and AAC. safety was usually the least important “advantage” not- As the charts show, contractors use various innova- ed by contractors from among a list provided in the tions despite their disadvantages. The researchers survey. Increasing safety usually ranked third, except concluded that masonry contractors are beginning to for the use of half-weight cement bags and two-per- innovate in the use of new equipment, materials, and son lift teams with 12-inch block, where safety was the work practices, a trend that should help reduce injury most important advantage. Cost was the greatest dis- risks to masons.

background, safety conditions, and occu- are seeking financial support from foun- Washington University School of pational injuries and health for the con- dations, government bodies, and other Medicine, Division of General Medical struction labor force. organizations interested in construction Sciences; Hester Lipscomb, PhD, Duke The survey will provide a unique source labor issues. University; John Gaal, EdD, Carpenters’ of insight into the relationship between Research Team: Janie Gittleman, District Council of Greater St. Louis and training experience and safety and health PhD, CPWR. Vicinity; Mark Fuchs, BS, St. Louis outcomes, among other critical issues. A Carpenters’ Joint Apprenticeship Program. particular strength of the survey is that it Preventing Falls Among will assess the depth and breadth of Residential Carpenters Preventing Nail Gun Injuries respondents’ knowledge of their primary Lead Researcher: Bradley Evanoff, MD, MPH, Lead Researcher: Hester Lipscomb, PhD, trade using task “batteries”– groupings of Washington University, St. Louis Duke University representative tasks for entry-level and This study is highlighted on p. 7. Although nail gun injuries remain an experienced workers in each of 19 trades. Research Team: Vicki Kaskutas, OTD, under-recognized problem among residen- The task batteries were developed with Washington University School of tial carpenters, considerable progress has input from construction trainers. In order Medicine, Program in Occupational been made in reducing such injuries since to administer the survey, the researchers Therapy; Ann Marie Dale, PhD, Dr. Lipscomb began her research in 2000.

11 Research

endings2004-2009 Reducing Injuries Among The team also gathered information and Masonry Workers insights from laborers and carpenters on Lead Researcher: Laura Welch, MD, CPWR jobsite activities and exposures, including In surveys of carpenter apprentices, the This study is highlighted on p. 11. silica, noise, organic solvents, and welding lifetime prevalence of nail gun injuries was Research Team: Dan Anton, PT, PhD, fumes. Researchers can use the data to 22.6 percent in 2008, substantially lower Eastern Washington University; Jennifer link potential hazards with various tools than the rate of more than 44 percent in Hess, DC, PhD, MPH, University of and construction tasks. 2005. Injury rates per hours worked and Oregon; Ryan Mizner, PhD, Eastern A case study examining the incentives per hours of actual tool use have both Washington University; Marc Weinstein, and barriers to the use of dust controls by declined since 2005. In addition, a larger PhD, Florida International University. a concrete contractor on a large building proportion of carpenters now seek medi- project was also completed and is in the cal care for nail gun injuries than at the Reducing Silica and Noise publication process. beginning of the project. Exposures during Concrete Research Team: Susan Shepherd, ScD, With early training and increasing use Cutting and Grinding University of Massachusetts-Lowell; of nail guns with sequential triggers, Lead Researcher: Susan Woskie, PhD, Partners: New England Laborers Training injury rates have declined over 50 per- University of Massachusetts-Lowell Academy, LIUNA Local 609, Suffolk cent. The sequential trigger by design Dr. Woskie and research partner Susan Construction, S&F Concrete. avoids inadvertent discharge of nails Shepherd, ScD, worked with the Laborers which is the most common cause of Union and its New England Laborers Refining the Overhead injury. In 2006, over half of the hours Training Academy to evaluate ways to Drilling Device apprentices spent nailing involved use of reduce silica and noise exposures when Lead Researcher: David Rempel, MD, MPH, cutting reinforced concrete pipe with a University of California, San Francisco gas-powered chop saw. This research is highlighted on p. 9. For the noise study, the researchers Research Team: Alan Barr, MS, wanted to determine whether the blade Demetra Star, MPH, Ira Janowitz, MS, design affected noise levels during gas saw UCSF; Billy Gibbons, MS, MBA; David operations. In tests with five different Harrington, MS, California Dept. of blades, the team found no difference in Public Health. decibel levels during saw operation, and concluded that the saw’s very noisy two- Safety and Health of Hispanic stroke motor was the main noise source. Construction Workers The testing revealed that noise exposure Lead Researcher: Xiuwen (Sue) Dong, differences among saw operators DrPH, CPWR depended mainly on how fast the saw was With the steady influx of Hispanic Nail gun injury rates decreased when use of workers on construction sites, this popu- sequential triggers and training increased. running during the cutting. The researchers are currently studying how work prac- lation was a major focus of the Data a sequential trigger for the first time. tices can reduce noise exposures from Center’s work. The data point to signifi- What has not changed is the higher these very noisy tools. cant disparities between Hispanics and rate of injuries with the contact trip trig- For silica dust control, the team found their non-Hispanic counterparts. Here ger gun, which has a two-fold higher that using water is more effective than are some key findings about Hispanic injury rate than the sequential trigger built-in dust control systems. The tests construction workers: gun even after considering training and showed that using water during concrete Employment experience. Inexperienced carpenters cutting reduces respirable dust exposure The number of Hispanics employed in without training also continue to have a by an average of 87 percent, but there was construction dropped by one-half million high injury rate. Nail gun injury rates no statistical difference in dust concentra- workers from its peak in early 2007 still remain much higher than recog- tions for different water flow rates. The to the end of 2008. Due to the economic nized, partly due to the fact that many researchers are working on recommenda- slump, the trend of Hispanic employ- injuries go unreported. For more on Dr. tions for using water spray pumps to ment in construction has changed from Lipscomb’s new efforts to reduce nail achieve optimal dust control. By contrast, increasing to decreasing for the first time gun injuries through outreach and train- the dust exhaust systems did not reduce since 1990. Nevertheless, about 30% ing, see p. 16. dust levels as effectively as wetting. Tests of all blue-collar construction workers Partners: James Nolan and Dennis on one gas saw with a built-in dust are Hispanic. Patterson, Local 2119 and 1310; exhaust system yielded average respirable Carpenters District Council of Greater dust levels that were about twice as high Fatal Falls and Nonfatal Injuries St. Louis and Vicinity; Home Builders as the levels found during wetting. Fatal falls account for nearly 40% of the Association of Greater St. Louis. total deaths among Hispanic workers,

12 much higher than 31% for white, non- Fatal and Nonfatal Injuries for OSHA 10 training certification. Hispanic workers. Hispanic construction The construction industry continues to Emphasizing worker participation, the workers were 28% more likely than their account for a disproportionate share of training is customized to address the work white, non-Hispanic counterparts to expe- work-related deaths in the United States, situations and needs of day laborers. The rience nonfatal work-related injuries. even though work-related death rates team has provided training to more than decreased from 1992 to 2007. Rates of 450 workers in six communities in north- Access to Healthcare nonfatal injuries and illnesses with days ern and central New Jersey and has Among workers having insurance, away from work declined for goods-pro- branched out to deliver training on fall only 24.5% of the payment for insured ducing industries overall, but rates for protection methods and other safety skills Hispanics was paid by private insurance construction remained the highest of the to hundreds of day laborers waiting at compared with 60.7% for insured whites. four major production industries. corners for work. Only 30% of Hispanics reported they had Falls are still the number one killer in This training approach is reaping a usual source of care provider – less than construction. Being struck by an object, benefits. The project evaluation found half of that for white workers. Healthcare falls to a lower level, and overexertion in improvements in worker knowledge, atti- use for Hispanic adults was more likely to lifting continue to be the leading causes tudes, and work practices. Interviews with be driven by necessity and severity of con- of nonfatal injuries. day laborers also suggest that workers ditions, thus resulting in more emergency who receive peer led health and safety room visits and inpatient care. Underreporting training are not only more likely to pro- In 2009, the Data Center created a new The findings to date suggest that nonfatal tect themselves but also to engage crew type of publication, CPWR Data Briefs, construction injuries and illnesses are which are one-topic analyses of current significantly underestimated and that this leaders and supervisors in an effort to data modeled after CPWR’s popular problem is worse in small establishments. make changes and adopt safer work prac- Construction Chart Book. The first data Research Team: Alissa Fujimoto, MA, tices. In post-training surveys, day labor- brief, Hispanic Employment in Rose Men, MS, CPWR. ers report a significant increase in the use Construction, was published in an elec- of personal protective equipment (PPE) tronic format and is available on the Training Day Laborers in Safety and in self-protective work practices; CPWR Web site. and Health reported injury rates have also declined. Research Team: Alissa Fujimoto, MA, Lead Researcher: Michele Ochsner, Day laborers also say they refer to the Rose Men, MS, CPWR. Rutgers University training materials and share the materials Dr. Ochsner partnered with New Labor, with friends and co-workers. Tracking Safety and Health Trends a worker center in New Jersey, and the Researchers at the University of Illinois Lead Researcher: Xiuwen (Sue) Dong, Laborers Union to develop the Day Chicago School of Public Health are work- DrPH, CPWR Laborers Health and Safety Workbook and ing with the Rutgers and New Labor team The CPWR Data Center monitors trends to evaluate this peer-led participatory on a NIOSH-funded project to dissemi- in construction employment, economics, approach to training. The program, which nate the curriculum and participatory and safety and health, using multiple pub- incorporates insights from focus groups training methods to worker centers in lic and private data sources. The Center’s of day laborers, meets the requirements Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. statistical reports are used by safety and health professionals, researchers, government officials and others. Some of the Data Center studies from 2009 are below.

Older Construction Workers Construction workers aged 50 and older are much more likely to have poorer health than their younger counterparts. Among male construction workers who were 55 years or older, 41% had hyper- tension, 51% were overweight, and 30% were obese. Also, 25% of older male construction workers had arthritis-related diseases, 2.7 times higher than the prevalence among workers under 50, and 7.5% of older construction workers were diagnosed with diabetes, three times higher than the prevalence for workers under 50 years old. Day laborers gather for informal training produced by the Rutgers research team.

13 Research

endings2004-2009 Between 1986 and 2004, more than A smoking cessation program within 18,000 sheet metal workers with 20-plus the screening program was extremely Work-Related Disease Among years in the trade were screened. Almost effective: 47 percent reported having quit. Sheet Metal Workers 10 percent had asbestosis and 21 percent The typical “quit-rate” is only 2.5 percent. Lead Researcher: Laura Welch, MD, CPWR had pleural (lung lining) scarring. A sec- A second study analyzed death statis- Dr. Welch’s team analyzed data from more ond exam given an average of 10 years tics of these workers and found a high than 20,000 medical screenings of sheet later to those with no evidence of asbes- rate of deaths from lung cancer, asbesto- metal workers, the largest asbestos-ex- tos-related lung disease on first exam sis and mesothelioma, a cancer caused by posed group of workers ever studied in found that 5.3 percent had developed asbestos exposure. Chest x-ray changes the United States. The screenings were asbestosis and 12.3 percent had devel- showing evidence of asbestosis were conducted by the Sheet Metal oped pleural scarring. The researchers also strongly associated with the risk of lung Occupational Health Institute Trust found that work in shipyards was more cancer, and the risk increased as the x-ray (SMOHIT), a labor-management partner- predictive of developing asbestosis over findings worsened. ship concerned about asbestosis among time than age, number of years in the Research Team: Elizabeth Haile, its member workers. trades, or smoking history. MS, CPWR.

• Aging workers are severely injured more frequently Small Studies than younger workers and require more days away CPWR’s Small Studies program provides a unique way to from work to recover. improve workplace safety. The program funds pilot proj- • Current knowledge about how to keep aging workers ects at a maximum of $30,000, and all projects have a safe and healthy at work is insufficient. turnaround time of one year. In the • Targeted policies are needed to help aging workers 17 years of its operation, the NIOSH- maintain their ability to work. sponsored program has funded 74 • More attention must be paid to the quality and safety projects with an impressive diversity of the work environment, and how to achieve work-life of topics, applicants, and geographic balance. representation. Research topics Small studies will continue to be a fundamental include equipment design, training part of CPWR’s research program in the new grant evaluation, safety controls, work- cycle, 2009 to 2014. place exposure to hazards such as manganese, and economics. The Small Studies funded 2004-2009 projects identify needed policy • Development of an exposure database for construction changes or potential interventions, • Task-specific silica exposure during concrete polishing and can help determine whether • Inherently safer principles for construction large-scale investigation is • Construction work organization: Developing a repre- warranted. sentative survey During the past year, timely issues • A case study of a water induction nozzle as a dust con- such as green school construction trol for abrasive blasting and the risk of isocyanate exposure • Genetic testing for Beryllium: Worker knowledge, be- The Healthy in the construction industry were liefs and attitudes Aging for Workers among the funded research. A Small Conference was Study grant funded the Healthy Ag- • Developing of design interventions for preventing falls funded through a ing for Workers Conference, Feb. • Evaluation of trades and task-specific building trades Small Study grant. 17-18, 2009, in Silver Spring, Md., safety training which was convened by The Association of Occupa- • How mortar debris accumulation affects vacuum tional and Environmental Clinics (AOEC) and the Society cleaner flow rates and pressure losses across vacuum for Occupational and Environmental Health (SOEH). cleaner filters Some of the key findings from the conference report are: • Construction injury surveillance in Illinois • All workers are aging, but those that are older • Construction procurement policies that address health continue to grow as a proportion of the working insurance – A cost analysis population. • Aging workers conference report • Many employers have jobs for which they want to • Occupational exposures, respiratory symptoms, and attract and retain more experienced workers. blood lead levels among Latino day laborers

14 strain and injuries, and decrease hand vibration, while at the same time improving productivity. The team will take the beginnings drill support system through design, fab- 2009-2014 rication, and field-tests. The researchers will also study the user’s hand vibration, arm and head postures and will measure New projects explore emerging issues such as iso- how the device affects productivity. The cyanate exposure, measuring worksite safety, and ultimate goal is to promote the widespread use of such drill support systems pairing “green construction” with worker safety and by demonstrating that the devices curb health. Previous research delves into new areas to injuries while also saving time and money. better understand construction hazards – and find ways to put new discoveries to work on jobsites.

Construction Solutions Communications Department. To that Lead Researcher: James Platner, PhD, end, the Department will be working with CIH, CPWR researchers and research-to-practice (r2p) Construction Solutions, www.cpwrCon- advisors to move awareness of an inter- structionSolutions.org, is a free, online vention toward acceptance of the need for site that identifies construction hazards change and an eventual change of a work by trade and task and gives solutions that practice to make jobsites safer. Since dis- can reduce or eliminate those hazards. The semination affects r2p efforts, the site, which is designed for workers, con- Department will be working with top staff tractors, designers, and owners, receives within Academy for Educational more than 4,000 hits per month. CPWR Development (AED) to evaluate activities With the new push for energy conservation aims to attract even more visitors to the and products that will determine the best steps such as blown-in insulation, an increasing Solutions site by linking it with the online methods, channels and materials for edu- number of construction workers may be resources of CPWR’s electronic Library of exposed to harmful isocyanates while applying cating and generating change. the insulation. Construction Occupational Safety and In addition, the Department will take Health (www.eLCOSH.org). the major step of restructuring and rede- Isocyanate Exposure In the initial phase, Construction signing CPWR’s electronic Library of Lead Researcher: Carrie Redlich, MD, Solutions focused on solutions for muscu- Construction Occupational Safety and Yale University loskeletal diseases. The site is being Health, www.elcosh.org. Find out more Isocyanate chemicals are well-known expanded to include more information on about this on p. 30. sensitizers and one of the most common fall prevention as well as methods for con- causes of occupational asthma. The controlling exposures to hazardous dusts Highway and Bridge struction industry is now the largest (such as silica) and welding fumes. CPWR Construction Drilling market in North America for products is also field-testing a return-on-invest- Lead Researcher: David Rempel, MD, containing isocyanates, including polyure- ment (ROI) calculator that can help University of California, San Francisco thane (PU) foam insulation, roofing mate- address contractors’ concerns about pro- Some workers on highway and bridge con- rials, coatings, and adhesives. Adding to ductivity and the costs of control solu- struction projects drill thousands of holes health concerns, the latest push for tions. CPWR is tracking usage patterns that are one inch in diameter and at least energy conservation means that large and page traffic in order to continuously 12 inches deep. They use hand-held air- numbers of construction workers are update and improve the database. powered rock drills weighing as much as installing blown-in PU foam insulation More information about Construction 60 pounds. This work puts extreme loads and other PU products. Workers who Solutions can be found on p. 30. on the worker’s upper body and back. handle such products can breathe in Drawing from their previous research isocyanates and/or have skin contact Dissemination/Communications/r2p on ergonomic problems caused by over- with the chemicals. Lead Researcher: Mary Watters, MFA, CPWR head drilling (see p. 7), Dr. Rempel and Little is known about the usage of PU When a researcher develops key findings his colleagues at UCSF are now developing products in the construction industry and that can improve the health and safety of a device that can be used by workers who potential adverse health effects. Even less construction sites, the findings need to be drill into concrete for highway and bridge is known about the effectiveness of differ- shared with those who can make changes repair. The purpose of the device is to ent strategies to reduce exposure, such as on worksites. That’s the job of CPWR’s reduce body fatigue and pain, curb muscle work practices and personal protective

15 Research

welding fume exposures in construc- nies, and the general public. The goal is to beginnings2009-2014 tion, and achieve policies that promote use of the • encouraging municipalities to adopt safer sequential trigger mechanism and equipment (PPE). Research conducted by building codes that require silica dust that define minimal training require- Dr. Redlich aims to fill in the gaps. Her control for masonry work. ments for nail gun use. team will study respiratory and skin Pending NIOSH approval. isocyanate exposures for various PU Organization of Work products and tasks in the construction Nail Gun Injuries Lead Researcher: Peter Chen, PhD, industry. The study will focus on the Colorado State University Lead Researcher: Hester Lipscomb, PhD, most widely used products with potential Duke University Leaders play a vital role in creating a isocyanate exposure risks, especially skin Nail guns are a leading cause of injuries culture of safety on construction sites, exposure. Dr. Redlich will also set up a among residential carpenters. Using a nail but what skills make an effective safety surveillance program to track health gun with a sequential trigger, rather than leader? Dr. Chen, who studies the organi- effects and isocyanate exposures among a contact trip trigger, can cut acute injury zational factors that shape safety culture construction workers who handle or work rates by half, according to studies con- and climate, will identify the specific lead- around PU products. ducted by Dr. Lipscomb. The new project ership skills considered critical to promot- Using information gained from these aims to curb nail gun injuries in residen- ing a safety culture in the construction studies, Dr. Redlich plans to launch a tial construction by increasing use of tools industry. Dr. Chen will use the findings to program to reduce isocyanate exposures with the safer sequential trigger and develop a safety leadership program that in construction workers by disseminating improved opportunities for nail gun safety enables future leaders to integrate safety information on the hazards of PU materi- training in the non-union sector of resi- culture into the building process. The pro- als and strategies for preventing isocya- dential building. gram emphasizes an assessment of one’s nate exposure. In addition to continued work in the strengths and weaknesses, the develop- St. Louis area, the team is reaching out to ment of self-improvement goals, and the Minimizing Exposure to Dust residential contractors in West Virginia practice of key leadership skills. The goal and Fumes with a largely non-union workforce. The is to develop future leaders who motivate Lead Researcher: Pam Susi, MSPH, CPWR researchers will study the effectiveness of workers to follow safe work practices. Engineering controls such as local exhaust training programs in both union and non- The project will also develop and identify hoods are key to protecting workers from union sectors. The team will also con- existing strategies to overcome research- harmful dusts and fumes. A CPWR project tinue to monitor national nail gun injury to-practice (R2P) barriers to implement- directed by Pam Susi aims to increase the patterns among consumers and workers, ing and disseminating the leadership use of such devices for protection against by tracking emergency department visits training program. silica dust and welding fumes. Teams of for nail gun injuries using the National manufacturers, researchers, and workers Electronic Injury Surveillance System Participatory Ergonomics are collaborating to identify user-friendly (NEISS) data for 2008-2012. Lead Researcher: Laura Welch, MD, CPWR and effective engineering control designs. The researchers are launching a What are the most effective ways to curb The consortium includes Harvard School massive campaign to get the message the musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of Public Health, Hunter College of the out about nail gun safety, reaching out to that plague the construction industry? City University of New York, the policy makers, OSHA representatives, Dr. Welch and her team are tackling this University of Puerto Rico and the residential contractors, insurance compa- issue from all angles: International Masonry Institute (IMI). The team works with employees from A masonry worker unions representing bricklayers, pipefit- handling an average ters, boilermakers, sheet metal workers and ironworkers, plus the employer of 200 concrete associations for these trades. masonry unit (CMU) The team’s activities include: blocks per day lifts • developing programs to train workers the weight of two on the proper use of engineering and one-half fully controls, loaded Boeing 747- • creating a computer-based spreadsheet tool that helps contractors select the 100s each year. most cost-effective controls for their In the new grant cycle, Dr. Welch’s team will work with three trades and work sites, 10 employers to study ergonomics interventions and measure their effect on • identifying and filling in data gaps on workplace exposures, symptoms, productivity, and return on investment.

16 • The team is analyzing health insurance to using commercially available fall claims and workers’ compensation prevention equipment in residential data to determine the prevalence construction, and promote the use and incidence of MSDs among of under-utilized, effective fall preven- construction workers. tion technology. • Working with three trades, the team will This project builds on the relationships measure workers’ physical exposures in from previous research with the St. Louis tasks that pose the highest physical Carpenters’ Joint Apprenticeship risks. This information will be used to Program, the Carpenters’ District design methods for reducing the risks. Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity, and residential contracting companies in • Working with about 10 employers, rep- Dr. Gittleman will develop a system to measure resenting small, medium, and large con- safety and health performance on jobsites. the St. Louis region. St. Louis represents tractors, the researchers will deliver the nation’s largest unionized residential ergonomics training, help implement companies may be able to use these data carpenter workforce in a single geo- changes in equipment, work practices, to evaluate construction firms’ experi- graphic area. or other interventions and measure the ences with workers’ compensation. effectiveness of these various solutions. Regulatory agencies such as the OSHA • The team will measure the effect of the consultation program are also interested ergonomics interventions on work in using the study results to track safety exposures, symptoms, productivity, and and health programs at the state and return on investment (ROI). company level.

The project aims to show that investing Residential Fall Protection in ergonomics interventions not only pro- Lead Researcher: Bradley Evanoff, MD, tects workers but also saves employers MPH, Washington University, St. Louis money, due to factors such as increased Falls from heights remain a leading cause productivity and reduced injury claims. of injury and death among construction The team also seeks to identify the barri- workers, despite efforts by everyone ers to adoption of ergonomic solutions. affected. Many factors contribute to this chronic safety concern, including ineffec- Performance Metrics tive training, worker behavior, employer Lead Researcher: Janie Gittleman, practices and safety culture, and lack of PhD, MRP, CPWR fall prevention and fall arrest equipment. Performance metrics can take the guess- Dr. Evanoff’s team aims to curb falls work out of workplace health and safety among residential carpenters through a programs, as well as making a business supervisor-based safety training and case for such programs. Unfortunately, Dr. Evanoff’s team aims to curb falls among mentorship program, along with an residential carpenters through supervisor- over the past decade there has been little emphasis on the regular use of fall pre- based training, mentoring, and changing progress in developing a system for mea- vention devices. The team will conduct attitudes toward safety and PPE. suring health and safety performance in four main research activities: the construction industry. While obtain- Measure long-term changes in fall Safety and Health Disparities ing reliable performance metrics is a chal- • protection knowledge, attitudes, and Lead Researcher: Xiuwen (Sue) Dong, lenge for any industry, this is especially DrPH, CPWR behaviors resulting from a school- true for the construction industry, which The Data Center is tackling the root causes based educational intervention in consists of mostly small employers with of safety and health disparities that are apprentice carpenters. widely disparate approaches to managing emerging among construction workers. health and safety risks. • Evaluate on-the-job fall protection The project will focus on Hispanic Dr. Gittleman’s team aims to identify safety training received by apprentice construction workers who, as a group, measures that are important and practical and journeyman carpenters, including experience higher rates of fatalities than for small, medium and large contractors both formal instruction (safety talks) other construction workers. New immi- to collect over time. The data can be used and informal instruction (mentoring grants and those employed in low-skill to benchmark improvements in prevent- and direct feedback from foremen and and high-risk occupations will be singled ing and reducing injuries and illnesses. senior carpenters). out for study. The Data Center will exam- The team will also develop criteria for • Implement and measure the effects of a ine, for the first time, how discrimination, evaluating the feasibility and practicality supervisory-based safety intervention. health behaviors, and work organization of using a metrics rating tool. Insurance • Explore the benefits and barriers factors may affect trends in safety and

17 Research

sive data available on all aspects of the validated controls for these hazards. beginnings2009-2014 U.S. construction industry: economic, The focus for controlling dust and silica demographic, employment/income, exposures will be on implementing local health disparities. Several nationally education/training, and safety and exhaust ventilation and water suppression representative data sources are being health topics. for powered hand tools and demolition utilized for the data analysis, including In addition to data collection and equipment. Efforts to reduce the noise the Survey of Income and Program analysis, the Data Center provides statis- exposures generated by these tools will Participation (SIPP), the Collaborative tical support to all construction stake- focus on two efforts: 1) encouraging Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES), holders, including construction employers to implement “Buy-Quiet” pro- and a set of the National Surveys of contractors, owners, workers, labor grams, which emphasize the availability Latinos (NSL). The findings from this unions, trade associations, government of low-noise equipment, and 2) establish- study will be used to develop measures agencies, and safety and health profes- ing Noise Perimeter Zones, clearly marked targeted at improving the health and sionals, both here and abroad. areas alerting workers to the need for safety of high-risk subpopulations hearing protection. within the construction industry. Safety Culture/Safety Incentives Lead Researcher: Jack Dennerlein, PhD, Sustainable Construction Safety and Health Tracking Plan Harvard University Lead Researcher: John Gambatese, PhD, Lead Researcher: Xiuwen (Sue) Dong, Do positive rewards for safe work Oregon State University DrPH, CPWR enhance safety programs? To answer Environmentally friendly, or “sustainable,” This project will track overall construction this question, Dr. Dennerlein is partner- buildings should have a better construc- safety and health trends. The goal is to ing with the Harvard University tion safety record than ordinary buildings, provide the basis for interventions in Construction Services Group to since sustainable concepts start with the order to protect construction workers undertake the following research: health and welfare of humans. That’s the from serious workplace injuries and ill- • Developing a progressive incentive pro- premise of Dr. Gambatese’s research. His nesses. To meet this challenge, the Data gram that rewards workers, foremen, previous work stressed the need to reduce Center will monitor patterns of fatal and site supervisors and project managers construction safety and health hazards nonfatal injuries and illnesses in the con- for achieving a certain level of perfor- during the design and engineering phase. struction industry. The Data Center will mance on safe work conditions, as mea- Now he is working on a tool modeled on sured with a safety inspection tool and the LEED system for rating a building’s The Data Center performance monitoring (leading indi- “green” quotient. His system would rate will examine, for cators of safety). building projects based on their inclusion • Pilot-testing the incentive program on of safety and health elements throughout the first time, how two small worksites at Harvard the design and construction phases. The discrimination, health University and refining the program project will also draw on CPWR-funded based on the results of the pilot. research conducted by Michael Toole, PhD, behaviors, and work • Completing a randomized control- of Bucknell University. Dr. Toole focused organization factors intervention study on eight large on the owner’s role in facilitating design- construction projects. The newly ing for safety. may affect trends in developed incentive program, based The project aims to refine and validate safety and health on leading indicators of safety, will be the Sustainable Construction Safety and Health (SCSH) rating system, using data disparities. randomly assigned to four of these sites. A conventional no-injury reporting from historical and current construction incentive program (using lagging indica- projects. The researchers are collecting also characterize the changing constructors) will serve as the control at the four information from all parties involved in tion workforce and identify emerging other sites. a project, tapping project owners in par- safety and health issues. ticular, because they are associated with The Data Center gathers detailed data Silica and Noise Controls all phases of building projects. The tool’s on construction employment, economics, Lead Researcher: Susan Woskie, PhD, development presents an opportunity to and safety and health using an array of University of Massachusetts, Lowell highlight those projects that stand out in large national data sets as well as data- Silica dust and noise continue to pose their commitment to reduce worksite bases developed by CPWR. This data col- serious risks to construction workers, injuries. The researchers plan to create an lection effort will culminate in the fifth despite the availability of proven controls. online version of the rating system then edition of The Construction Chart Book: Dr. Woskie and her team are partnering spread the word about their study results The U.S. Construction Industry and its with demolition and concrete contractors, and the rating system through webcasts Workers. This edition, like previous edi- unions, and tool manufacturers to identify and national conferences. tions, will present the most comprehen- and overcome obstacles to using research- Pending NIOSH approval.

18 Vulnerable Worker Training and Safety Liaisons Lead Researcher: Michele Ochsner, PhD, Rutgers University Laborers in residential construction are vulnerable to injuries and illnesses due to their inexperience and lack of health and safety training. Through the efforts of the Rutgers team, laborers will be able to turn to “safety liaisons” for help on safe work practices. The project will recruit and train a group of union (LIUNA Local 55) and non- union (New Labor) construction laborers as peer safety leaders or safety liaisons. They will learn how to conduct informal safety audits and communicate with supervisors and employers about hazardous conditions. This training program will be conducted in Spanish and English, and safety liaisons will be supported in this role by New Labor At-risk day laborers could see their peers trained as “safety liaisons” to provide information and advice on working safely in Dr. Ochsner’s study. and Local 55 staff. Using English and Spanish language Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79), curriculum modules developed in the which spans the years from teens to mid- team’s previous project, safety liaisons dle-age, and the Health and Retirement will also learn how to co-facilitate an Study (HRS), which covers workers’ lives OSHA 10-hour safety and health near and after retirement. Both of the training program for their co-workers surveys collect detailed information on with an OSHA certified trainer. The work history, demographics, socioeco- research team will look at whether safety nomic status, and health (including liaisons improve knowledge, work prac- work-related injuries) of the general tices, and safety climate at residential population. The HRS also includes a spe- construction worksites. cial module for “Occupational Injuries,” The project is a collaborative effort which collects information on OSHA among Rutgers OTEC, New Labor, a inspections at job sites and certain work- worker center in New Jersey, and LIUNA- place exposures. The Data Center will NJ Local 55, a new union local organizing examine associations between occupa- residential construction in New Jersey. tional exposures and health outcomes, The setting for this project is the densely and detect work-related injuries and populated Newark area, where LIUNA-NJ illnesses in self-employed workers, Local 55 is opening new offices. retired workers, and other workers who are excluded or underrepresented in Worker Health Across the Lifespan current Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Lead Researcher: Xiuwen (Sue) Dong, injury and illness reports and workers’ DrPH, CPWR compensation systems. The CPWR Data Center is undertaking a Key findings from this study will comprehensive new study exploring the serve as a guide to developing measures health of construction workers across to prevent and reduce chronic diseases their lifespan. The aim of this project is to and disabilities within the construction identify ways to improve working-life workforce. The findings will be used to expectancy by preventing chronic diseases promote a safety and health culture in and disabilities earlier in life. the construction industry. A longitudinal study will analyze injury and This study will tap data from two illness data plus demographics, work history, socioeconomic status and general health on large national longitudinal surveys: workers from their teen years to middle age. the 1979 cohort of the National

19 Training

Hazardous operations require a specialized response. CPWR’s specialized training includes confined space entry, asbestos and lead abatement, and hazardous waste cleanup. For general safety and health training, CPWR trains the trainers who will then deliver basic OSHA 10-hour courses.

Providing OSHA 10- and 30-hour safety and health training to construction workers is not just good practice. More and more, such training is mandatory. Seven states and one municipality now have laws requiring OSHA 10-hour training for construction workers. CPWR delivers OSHA 500 courses to train instructors and enrich the workforce with qualified trainers to support the more than three million organized construction workers on U.S. jobsites. This year CPWR saw brisk demand for its OSHA training programs. In 2009, more than 120,000 union members received CPWR-affiliated OSHA training. CPWR Master Trainers trained 1,376 outreach trainers who are authorized to deliver OSHA 10-and 30-hour courses as well as the OSHA 7600 disaster site worker course. CPWR’s environmental hazard training offered several dynamic “trainer enhancement” workshops. In one, Master Trainers explored the hazards of “green construction” and were introduced to a rating system, now in development, modeled after the LEED “green” rating system to rate safety and health worksite practices. In addition, CPWR responded to several requests from training centers. The CPWR Training Department provided expertise in drafting a new trade-specific manual on lead hazards, then modified and updated the training curriculum, culminating in a train-the- trainer instruction for Master Trainers.

20 responding

delivering

CPWR training enables workers to identify hazards and request the proper personal protective equipment.

2121 Training

decisions workers face when deployed to a disaster. CPWR’s program is used as a curriculum for deliveringSafty & Health the OSHA 7600: Disaster Site Training for Construction Workers. Every trainer who takes CPWR’s OSHA 500 training is also Preparing for Any Emergency authorized to deliver OSHA 7600 to construction workers. Thankfully, our nation did not experience a Hurricane CPWR has grant funds to help Katrina-style disaster in 2009. But more and more construction local union and building trades workers are realizing that they are the “second responders” councils provide the disaster when weather-related or man-made incidents reduce buildings response course to their to rubble. members. Chris Trahan, After September 11th, CPWR created a disaster response CPWR’s director of OSHA training program to prepare construction workers who want to and disaster response put their skills to work in emergencies. The training covers training, coordinates health and safety topics for construction workers who are called delivery of the program. in to help emergency responders in the aftermath of disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, or building collapses. Such workers perform a variety of response tasks, such as assessing Smart Mark III building damage, clearing debris, and aiding in search and Demand is brisk for Smart rescue. CPWR’s disaster response training prepares construction Mark III, the training curriculum for the OSHA workers to work safely in dangerous settings and to recognize 10- and 30-hour programs offered by the Building and the hazards posed during emergency response work. The Construction Trades Department (BCTD) to building trades program’s DVD-based curriculum shows the life-and-death unions. And since 30 percent of all construction workers are

OSHA 500 Course Training 2006 – 2009 by Location

CPWR’s OSHA 500 course prepares instructors to present OSHA 10- and 30-hour training to workers. These courses help prepare workers to be the most knowledgeable and safest workers available to the construction industry.

22 CPWR OSHA Training Conducted 8/2008-7/2009

89 6,349 1,451 OSHA 500 OSHA OSHA Train-the-Trainer 10-hr Courses 30-hr Courses Courses Reached Reached 1,376 21,431 Trainers Reached workers 97,346 workers 120,153 total union members trained nationally in CPWR-affiliated OSHA programs in the last year

Hispanic, Smart Mark curriculum is also available in Spanish. In 2008, new modules on health and safety topics, including silica and motor vehicle safety, were added to the curriculum. Union instructors now have 19 ready-made modules to use in their OSHA outreach training. Since the program was expanded, nearly 1,000 copies of the Smart Mark III CD have been distributed by the BCTD. The widespread availability of the highly regarded Smart Mark program coincides with a rise in laws mandating OSHA 10-hour training in construction. Currently, seven states (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Missouri, and Nevada) and one municipality (New York City) have laws on the books requiring OSHA 10-hour certification for construction workers on certain projects. Since 1998, more than 500,000 workers have completed Fall protection is demonstrated in a CPWR OSHA 500 class in Portland, Smart Mark training. Union trainers who are interested in using Ore. These train-the-trainer classes cover a wide variety of teaching Smart Mark should have their international union’s training techniques and all relevant aspects of the OSHA Construction Standards department contact the BCTD for ordering information. found in 29 CFR 1926, the federal code. Graduates are authorized to teach the OSHA 10- and 30-hour programs as well as the Disaster Response Worker class.

23 Training

UC-Berkeley on “green” chemistry. Nancy Lessin spoke to the trainers about the union approach to health and safety, an alternative to behavior-based safety systems popular with many respondingTo Environmental Hazards contractors. Oregon State PhD graduate Sathy Rajendran described his doctoral thesis linking worker health and safety to green construction and his tool to measure safety commitment on green construction jobs: the Sustainable Environmental Hazard Training Construction Safety & Health Rating System. CPWR also conducted a Confined Space Train-the-Trainer CPWR works in cooperation with international and national April 20-24, 2009, in Portland, Ore. Thirty participants from building trades unions to provide environmental and safety and various trades representing the insulators/asbestos workers, health training to construction workers who do hazardous waste plumbers and pipefitters, sheet metal workers, carpenters, cleanup, as well as lead or asbestos abatement, permit-required ironworkers, electrical workers, painters, boilermakers, and confined space entry, or disaster cleanup, and to those who may be exposed to chemical or biological hazards on the job. This training is funded through awards from the National Institute of Environmental Health and Safety (NIEHS).

Trainer Enhancements In order to continue developing health and safety instructors capable of delivering the environmental curriculum and training, CPWR conducts various Train-the-Trainer sessions and an annual Trainer Enhancement to enable instructors to recertify their hazardous waste, confined space, lead, and/or asbestos certificates. A total of 79 health and safety instructors representing various trades attended the 2008 CPWR Trainer Enhancement held Oct.13-16 in Silver Spring, Md. In addition to the core sessions, the CPWR Training Department offered participatory and hands-on workshops on air monitoring, quantitative respirator Mike Murphy (foreground), Master Instructor for the IBEW’s fit-testing, supplied-air respirators, National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, and Charles DVD training resources, and CPWR’s Byerly, a health and safety trainer with the Plumbers and Pipefitters union in Paducah, Ky., sample a simulated confined space using a new Mold Awareness Curriculum. three-gas monitor, or “sniffer.” Dr. David Michaels, who was confirmed as Assistant Secretary of plasterers/cement masons attended. This component is Labor for the Occupational Safety and especially important for CPWR’s labor partners due to the Health Administration (OSHA) in broad exposure of their members to confined space hazards, November 2009, addressed all not only in hazardous waste jobs, but throughout the Dr. David Michaels, participants during the opening construction industry. now Assistant Secretary session. A former research professor of Labor for OSHA, and chair of George Washington Responding to Requests spoke to instructors at University’s Environmental and CPWR’s 2008 Trainer The Ironworkers International Union asked CPWR to help them Enhancement. Occupational Health Department, Michaels drew from his 2008 book, revamp their lead awareness training. In response, CPWR crafted Doubt Is Their Product, which gave case studies of biased “science” a new manual that incorporates many ironworker-specific tasks to mislead the public and delay passage of new regulatory and such as welding and torch-cutting of lead-contaminated steel. compliance measures. CPWR Master Trainer Gene Daniels modified and updated the The 2009 Trainer Enhancement held Sept. 27-30, in Portland, curriculum covering health effects, exposure, ventilation, Ore., was attended by 81 instructors, business managers, and personal protective equipment (PPE), decontamination and training directors representing various trades. In addition to other safety issues of concern to construction workers who are trainer refresher workshops, CPWR took the opportunity to not involved in abatement, but who may be exposed to lead focus on worker health and safety as it pertains to “green” hazards in their normal work operations. This curriculum was construction. Workshops included presentations by the U.S. used in a three-day pilot training Daniels delivered to nine Green Building Council, Cascadia Chapter, on its “LEED” rating Ironworker Master Instructors at their Benicia, Calif., training system for new construction and by Dr. Michael Wilson from facility in February 2009.

24 Calif., New Orleans, Los Angeles, and St. Paul, Minn. In 2009, the Department of Energy cut all funding to their Brownfields Minority Worker Training. While CPWR was unhappy to lose this program aiding our nation’s underserved workforce, a separate and larger EPA-funded program supporting many other trainees continued without interruption. Since 2000, the Minority Worker Training program trained 1,853 students, graduated 1,785 and placed 1,332.

Recent Graduate Jocelyn Bowden, a single mother with three children, was placed with Tri Construction Company as a CPWR Master Trainer George Newman (second from left) models carpenter after graduating the hands-on training for the use of a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for health and safety instructors at the Bricklayers’ program. Bowden is making $22.50 International Masonry Institute in Bowie, Md. CPWR conducted this an hour, a major step up from her hazardous waste Train-the-Trainer session especially for this group. previous job. She faced the challenge of purchasing a CPWR also responded to a request from the Bricklayers union. The union needed to provide contractors in New York City and vehicle to get to upstate New York with hazardous waste-trained bricklayers so jobsites, as do many contractors could bid on work removing PCB-contaminated students in the caulk from public schools undergoing remodeling and program. The St. renovation. CPWR provided three 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Paul MWT program Worker courses for 63 Bricklayers members from New York and partnered with Connecticut. CPWR also went one step further by conducting a the community- Hazardous Waste Train-the-Trainer course in Bowie, Md., March based program, 16-20, 2009, for the Bricklayers’ International Masonry Community Action, Institute. Twenty Bricklayer journeymen and instructors which provides car loans for used cars. Bowden was attended this training and are prepared to deliver peer-led hazardous waste training for fellow members involved with the approved for an interest-free loan to obtain a car with removal of PCB-contaminated caulk. a monthly payment of $42. If Bowden keeps her job for six months, the remainder of the loan will be forgiven. Minority Worker Training Minority workers receive job skills and safety and health training through federal grants awarded to CPWR. Working in cooperation with a stable network of building trades unions and community-based organizations, this program prepares workers for employment in hazardous waste work at designated sites around the country – many in areas where these workers already live. The goal of CPWR’s Minority Worker Training (MWT) program is to train, certify, and secure jobs for economically disadvantaged ethnic minorities living in the communities near U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund National Priority’s List sites and Brownfields sites. The training program includes adult literacy and environmental worker training, education, and certification, plus Building Trades-certified construction training. Pre-apprenticeship and life skills training for economically disadvantaged workers provide opportunities for long-term and well-paid employment serving minorities, communities, and the construction industry. Minority Worker Training Programs are currently underway in East Palo Alto,

25 Service

An average of four construction workers are killed every day on U.S. construction sites. More than 600,000 building trades workers who served our nation’s nuclear weapons programs are now at risk of developing cancer and other life-threatening ailments from worksite exposure to hazards. What is being done to help workers?

For construction workers who were on Department of Energy nuclear sites, BTMed can be a lifeline. The Building Trades National Medical Screening Program (BTMed) helps identify work-related health problems through free medical screenings. CPWR has been coordinating this program since its inception in 1996. In addition, CPWR aids workers in verifying employment to gain access to compensation. BTMed now has outreach offices in 23 locations nationwide. For the 11 million construction workers on U.S. worksites, CPWR takes research findings from its applied research program and packages the information for workers, trainers, safety directors, and contractors. DVDs, Hazard Alert cards, technical reports, and more have been produced to provide clear, factual information for anyone in the construction industry. CPWR’s electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health, eLCOSH, has become a world-renown repository of vital industry information. It has been joined by Construction Solutions, an online database of hazard controls, in the 2004-2009 grant cycle. As researchers discover new ways to protect workers’ health and safety, CPWR seeks to see their findings become part of industry practices. All of CPWR’s products are either free or low cost.

26 serving

informing

The construction industry has access to high-quality safety and health information through CPWR print and electronic media.

27 Service

older construction workers ever undertaken. This study is producing a rapidly growing record of new knowledge on a wide range of issues, including improvements in worker protection ServingOur Communities and in medical care for patients with chronic diseases. How the Free Screening Program Works Workers start with a work-history interview. They are offered a Building Trades National Medical Screening free medical screening exam and specialized tests if their work Program (BTMed) history indicates possible exposure to hazardous substances. The worker receives a written summary of all medical results and a Hundreds of thousands of construction workers unwittingly put nurse is available to explain the report. themselves at risk as they worked on Department of Energy A network of 23 BTMed outreach offices near DOE sites works (DOE) nuclear sites involved in nuclear weapons production. with local unions and the community to promote the free While safety and health precautions are greatly improved from screening program. The outreach office in Oak Ridge, Tenn., was the early days during and after World War II, today’s workers can featured on a local television news program in November 2009 still encounter hazardous materials in dust and residue. Workers (see p. 29). CPWR also supports a Web site, www.btmed.org, were (and are) exposed to hazards such as radiation, asbestos, which provides information to workers and their families. beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead, silica, and solvents, which can cause cancer and other serious, even fatal, health problems In 2009 … But those who worked on DOE nuclear sites are eligible to n 2,993 workers were screened. receive free medical screenings through the Building Trades n Participant satisfaction continued its steady annual National Medical Screening Program (BTMed). The screening growth, rising from 92 percent in 2006 to 99 percent program helps identify workers’ job-related health problems that in 2009. may have gone untreated or undiagnosed in the years since the hazardous exposures occurred. BTMed was the first program to n Articles featuring the BTMed program appeared in document that construction workers in the nuclear weapons four union publications: magazines of the IBEW, programs are at risk for beryllium disease. Painters, Cement Masons, and the Plumbers and CPWR’s Trish Quinn has been at the helm of BTMed since the Pipefitters training newsletter. Department of Energy began funding the program in 1996. Key Medical Findings of the Screening Program Since that time, approximately 20,000 workers have received n X-ray evidence of lung disease in 25 percent of screenings. In addition to serving former workers, the program screened workers. is also helping to make today’s DOE workplaces safer, by documenting the need for stringent safety and health n Audiometry test evidence of hearing loss in 70 percent. protections during construction work such as repair, renovation, n Blood test results showing beryllium disease and demolition. BTMed is by far the largest medical study of in 2 percent.

Informing Physicians Laura Welch, MD, medical advisor manufacture nuclear weapons. Maintenance, demolition to the BTMed program, addressed or renovations may disturb residual beryllium dust an audience of medical students, generated from long-ago operations. internal medicine residents, and As CPWR’s medical director and a board-certified faculty members when she physician in occupational medicine, Dr. Welch is also delivered the 10th annual James P. keenly aware that all construction workers are exposed Keogh Memorial Lecture at the to numerous health hazards that can manifest as University of Maryland School of serious, even fatal, diseases later in life. Physicians Medicine in October 2009. She without an occupational medicine background may presented the latest findings on misdiagnose a health problem or never connect the chronic beryllium disease (CBD), disease, such as lung cancer, to the patient’s work. She Dr. Laura Welch which can be treated but not took the opportunity to address construction-specific cured and is sometimes fatal. CBD is a concern among health problems during the “grand rounds,” which the construction workers currently or formerly employed Keogh lecturer makes during residents’ morning report at DOE nuclear sites that used beryllium to at the university’s medical center.

28 Employment Verification Congress created a program in 2000 to compensate workers sickened by exposure to hazardous materials while working on DOE nuclear sites. In order to obtain compensation, workers must prove their medical problems are related to their DOE site work. But DOE did not keep employment records on subcontractors, so proving their eligibility for compensation is difficult (see box for a personal account about this issue). At DOL’s request, CPWR works with local building trades unions and subcontractors to obtain union and union-employer trust funds records, such as dispatch cards or pension contribution receipts, to help with employer verification. CPWR has assisted with more than 13,670 verification requests since 2003.

Local TV “News at 5” Features BTMed’s Oak Ridge Office In November 2009, a flood of calls came into BTMed’s Oak Ridge, Tenn., office after a television sta- tion ran a 3½-minute segment about the local screening program. The segment aired Nov. 16, during the 5 p.m. news on WATE, Channel 6, in Knoxville. The piece showed BTMed’s staff working to get free medical exams and compensation assistance for ill construction workers who were employed at local DOE nuclear sites. Of the workers screened at BTMed’s Oak Ridge office, 449 have been diagnosed with various forms of cancer. As the show noted, construction workers have unique difficulties when it comes to proving eligibility for compensation for illnesses following their hazardous exposures on DOE nuclear sites. DOE treated subcontractors as “temporary workers” and was not required to keep any employment records on them. (See “Employment Verification” above.) To demonstrate the terrible plight faced by ill construction workers who lack proper records, the show interviewed a construction worker with colon cancer who had worked for 15 years on six different DOE sites. Although his medical claim was originally approved, it was later denied because he didn’t have records proving that he worked enough days at a single site to be included among employee groups qualifying for compensation, based on exposures and length of employment. Many construction workers who were employed on DOE nuclear sites face similar circumstances. After the show posted the BTMed’s phone number, more than 50 people called to learn more about the screening program. The segment can be viewed online by following this link on BTMed’s Web site: https://www.btmed.org/links.cfm BTMed staff created new displays in 2009, like the one above, to promote the program at public and union events.

29 Service Expanding Solutions Construction Solutions, CPWR’s online informing database of jobsite hazards with solutions Our Industry for reducing, controlling or eliminating the hazards, saw expan- sion in all areas. The online resource provides a user-friendly format that helps take the guesswork out of construction health and Renovating eLCOSH – Our electronic Library safety. As of September 2009, the database contained 451 task- hazard records, with 150 in review, and 59 solution records, with CPWR’s electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety 30 in development and review. The most popular solutions were and Health, www.elcosh.org, has grown to include more than Lightweight Concrete Block with 6,133 total views and Rebar 1,000 documents. This premier online resource averages about Tying Tools with 2,736 views, followed closely by Ergonomic 50,000 unique visitors every month, as new research findings, Hand Tools with 2,437 views. training tools, recent magazine articles, videos, and more are In 2009, researchers and safety professionals wrote controls posted continually. for task hazards that touched every trade. In 2010, the site will However, the online world and its users have changed continue to add tasks, identify hazards and offer solutions. considerably since eLCOSH was launched in August of 2000, and an upgrade of the site is now in the works. The changes Using Adword started in October 2009, when all pages on eLCOSH were given Google Adword is a keyword-based advertising system. CPWR icons to make emailing, printing, and posting to social network- was awarded a Google Grant, which enables nonprofits to use the ing sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter easily available. Google Adword advertising at almost no cost. Both eLCOSH and CPWR have pages on Facebook. The Google Adword program has been a resounding success. Starting in 2010, the site will see a major overhaul, as More than 50,000 visitors have entered eLCOSH through Google CPWR staff begin working with safety and health professionals, Adwords in just six months, and close to 10,000 visitors entered researchers, trainers, contractors and government representa- Construction Solutions. In April 2009, the eLCOSH ad appeared tives to re-imagine and restructure the site. Site usability testing 527,403 times and yielded 11,588 visitors. The ads, which cost a will provide guidance on revising layouts, menu items, and navi- few hundred dollars for six months, were worth nearly $45,000 gation. Web development firm Conceptual Arts will redesign the in paid advertising for the two sites. site and add features, such as a notification service to users when documents on select topics are posted. New content and new Linking eLCOSH & Solutions topics such as r2p best practices, “green” construction and Construction Solutions and eLCOSH evolved at different times emerging hazards will be added. with independent identities and were never connected. In the new grant cycle, Conceptual Arts will develop programming to eLCOSH Images Launched automatically establish links between eLCOSH and Construction Looking for good quality photos depicting construction safety Solutions pages on similar topics. Cross referencing the two sites and health themes? A collection of these kinds of photos is will introduce new users to both sites and will provide additional available free of charge at information for searches. www.eLCOSHImages. org, launched December 2009. All photos are Share Your COSH Knowledge! accompanied by descrip- All of the solutions in the Construction Solutions tions of the hazard, possi- database have been authored by one professional, and ble control, and the trades peer-reviewed by two others. If you would like to help involved, as well as a grow Construction Solutions, there are several ways you citation as “good practice” can contribute: or “bad practice.” Most photos are available as 1. Suggest solutions – We may ask you to examine high resolution images for hazard analyses appropriate for your background so printing and low resolu- that you can suggest solutions to add to the database. tion for presentations and screens. In fact, a 2. Review a solution – When a solution appropriate to number of photos used in this publication your background has been authored, we may contact came from eLCOSH Images. you about reviewing the initial draft. New photos are continually added to the site. As parent site Go to www.cpwrConstructionSolutions.org and click eLCOSH is restructured, eLCOSH Images will be upgraded to on “Volunteer” to share your knowledge and help enable users to share their construction photos for training improve worksite safety for workers at home and abroad. and demonstration purposes.

30 An ENR Cover Story Selected Journal After an Engineering News Record (ENR) editorial on “portable safety report cards” sparked an unprecedented number of Articles and Reports comments on its Web site, ENR decided to run a point- CPWR researchers published 115 articles in peer-reviewed counterpoint cover story on the controversial proposal. Whom journals from 2004-2009. did the magazine choose to Anton D, Rosecrance J, Gerr, F, Reynolds J, Meyers A, Cook T. [2007]. provide expert analysis for the Effect of aviation snip design and task height on upper extremity mus- counterpoint? CPWR. cular activity and wrist posture. JOEH, 4:99-113. Portable safety records would Bitzer EG, Chen PY, Johnson RG [2009]. Security in organizations: track workers’ injuries and follow Expanding the frontier of industrial–organizational psychology. In G. P. Hodgkinson and J. K. Ford (Eds.). International Review of Industrial and them from job to job, and would Organizational Psychology. John Wiley. Volume 24. be maintained by OSHA. Pete Dennerlein JT, Ronk CJ, Perry MJ [2009]. Portable ladder assessment Stafford, CPWR’s executive tool development and validation – quantifying best practices in the field. director, found the idea misguided Safety Science. 47:636-639. and impractical. Having OSHA Flynn M, Susi P [2009]. Modeling mixed exposures: an application to maintain injury records for welding fumes in the construction trades. Stochastic Environmental more than 11 million people Research and Risk Assessment, 1436-1440. was “not realistic.” Also, by Hecker SF, Schneider S, Hess JA, Kincl LD [2006]. Chapter 50: Ergonomics in general construction. In: Marras WS, Karwowski W, eds. “marking” workers who are Occupational Ergonomics Handbook. 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC injured, the approach puts Press, pp 50-1—50-30. the responsibility for safety Jorgensen EZ, Sokas RK, Nickels L, Gao W, Gittleman JL [2007]. An solely on the shoulders of English/Spanish Safety Climate Scale for Construction Workers. Am J workers, who have little Ind Med, 50:438-442. control over worksite Kaskutas V, Dale AM, Nolan J, Patterson D, Lipscomb H, Evanoff B conditions. “Workers don’t [2009]. Fall Hazard Identification and Control Observed on Residential design jobs or draw up Construction Sites. Am J Ind Med, 52(6):491-499. schedules,” Stafford wrote. Lipscomb HJ, Nolan J, Patterson D, Makrozahopoulos D, Kucera K, Dement JM [2008]. How much time is safety worth? A comparison of “They can arrive at a site trigger configurations on pneumatic nail guns in residential framing. without engineering controls, PPE, a safety plan or manager. Public Health Reports, 123(4):481-486. They can be given poorly maintained equipment that fails.” MacCollum D [2007]. Construction Safety Engineering Principles: ENR’s August story generated comments online until Designing and Managing Safer Job Sites. McGraw Hill. mid-October of 2009. Read the articles and form your own McCann M, Gittleman J, Watters M. [2008]. Crane-related deaths in opinions at ENR’s site, which gets more than one million construction and recommendations for their prevention. CPWR – The hits a month. Center for Construction Research and Training. Silver Spring, MD. http://enr.construction.com/opinions/viewpoint/2009/ Meeker J, Cooper M, Lefrowitz D, Susi P [2009]. Engineering Control 0812-PortableSafetyRecord.asp Technologies to Reduce Occupational Silica Exposures in Masonry Cutting and Tuckpointing. Public Health Reports, Supplement 1, Vol. 124, June. McCann Receives r2p Award Ochsner M, Marshall E, Kimmel L, Martino M, Cunningham R, Hoffner CPWR’s Michael McCann, PhD, was on a team of researchers K, [2008]. Immigrant Day Laborers in New Jersey: Baseline Data from a who received the Bullard-Sherwood Research-to-Practice Participatory Research Project. New Solutions: Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy. 18 (1):57-76. (r2p) Award for their research on aerial lifts. The study, Redlich CA, Welch LS [2008].Chronic beryllium disease: risk from low- headed by Dr. Christopher Pan of the NIOSH Division of level exposure. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, May 1:177(9):936-7. Safety Research, will provide industry with a refined test Rempel D, Star D, Barr A, Gibbons B, Janowitz I [2009]. A new method protocol to be used for overhead drilling. Ergonomics Dec; 52(12):1584-9. for aerial lift drop Sokas RK, Nickels L, Rankin, K, Gittleman JL, Trahan C [2007]. Trainer testing. Six major evaluation of a union-based 10-hour safety and health hazard awareness fall protection sys- program for U.S. Construction Workers. Int J Occup Environ Health, tem manufacturers 13:56-63. collaborated with Welch LS, Hunting KL, Haile E and Boden L [2008]. Musculoskeletal and aerial lift manufac- Medical Condtions among Construction Roofers, Work. 31:377-386. turer Sky Jack and Weinstein M, Hecker S, Hess J, Kincl L [2007]. There is nothing so prac- the ANSI Z359 fall tical as a good theory: A roadmap to diffuse ergonomic innovations in the construction industry. Int J Occup Environ Health, 13:46-55. protection system standard committee See complete listing at on the project. http://www.cpwr.com/rp-journalarticles.html

31 Service

CPWR Products Between 2004 and 2009, CPWR research, training and outreach programs developed a wide range of products. 1 Book 1 Data brief 2 Book chapters 2 Demonstration videos 3 Podcasts 3 Social media sites oshwiki.org 4 DVDs 4 New tools/equipment to improve safety and health of workers 5 Seminars 6 Web sites/wiki site 11 Training programs 14 Brochures or fliers 22 Guidebooks, manuals or participant handouts 22 White papers/technical reports 62 Articles in industry/union/trade publications authored by CPWR staff or researchers 1 1 5 Articles in peer-reviewed journals Two Training Programs authored by CPWR-funded researchers to Improve Safety Culture 4 07 Presentations New Tools for Hard Hats is a training program for two audiences. CPWR Responded to ... For Contractors: Proactive Management 100 calls a week from workers or family fosters safety communication at all levels and members to the BTMed program focuses on foremen as the leverage of change. 460 calls a year made regarding CPWR’s • Foremen training Environmental Hazard Training Program • Superintendent strategies for 750 information/statistical consultations supporting foremen requests received by the CPWR Data • Communications campaign of Center between 2004-2009 posters, paycheck stuffers, and 21,343 Hazard Alert cards distributed through effective toolbox talks requests, conferences, and mailings For Workers/Apprentices: Safe Talk is an interactive to trainees from January 1 through training program on sharing near misses, safety feedback, December 31, 2009 and anger management.

Peer-reviewed Journals CPWR researchers published 115 articles in peer-reviewed journals from 2004-2009.

32 CPWR Consortium Partners & Lead Collaborators

Daniel C. Anton, PhD Carrie Redlich, MD, MPH Partnerships Eastern Washington University Yale School of Medicine Labor Organizations Cheney, Washington New Haven, Connecticut Building and Construction Paul Becker, PhD David Rempel, MD, MPH Trades Department, AFL-CIO, West Virginia University University of California, San Francisco and Affiliated Councils Morgantown, West Virginia John Rosecrance, PhD International Construction Unions Eula Bingham, PhD Colorado State University and Affiliates University of Cincinnati Fort Collins, Colorado Cincinnati, Ohio Contractor Associations Michael Toole, PhD Sergio Caporali Filho, PhD Bucknell University The Association of Union Constructors University of Puerto Rico Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Mechanical Contractors Association San Juan, Puerto Rico Marc Weinstein, PhD National Association of Construction Peter Y. Chen, MA, PhD University of Oregon Boilermaker Employers Colorado State University Eugene, Oregon Fort Collins, Colorado National Electrical Contractors Susan Woskie, PhD Association John M. Dement, PhD, CIH University of Massachusetts, Lowell North American Contractors Association Duke University School of Medicine Durham, North Carolina Small Study Grantees Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association Jack Dennerlein, PhD Tom Armstrong, PhD Harvard School of Public Health University of Michigan U.S. Government Agencies Boston, Massachusetts Brady Bratcher, AAS U.S. Department of Energy Bradley A. Evanoff, MD, MPH Regional District Council U.S. Department of Labor Washington University of Ironworkers St. Louis, Missouri Environmental Protection Agency Nate Fethke, PhD John Gambatese, PhD University of Iowa National Institute for Occupational Oregon State University Safety and Health, CDC Corvallis, Oregon Linda Forst, MD, MPH University of Illinois at Chicago National Institute of Environmental Mark Goldberg, PhD Health Sciences, NIH Hunter College – CUNY William A. Heitbrink, PhD New York, New York University of Iowa State Agencies State Departments of Health Robert F. Herrick, ScD Kathy Kirkland, MPH Harvard School of Public Health Association of Occupational and Boston, Massachusetts Environmental Clinics Business Hester J. Lipscomb, PhD Morris Kleiner, PhD Zenith Administrators, Seattle Duke University School of Medicine University of Minnesota Durham, North Carolina Mark Maher, BA Jeffrey Nelson, MS, MBA Washington Safety and Health Conceptual Arts Inc. Training Institute Gainesville, Florida David May, ScD Michele Ochsner, PhD New Hampshire AFL-CIO Rutgers, The State University EAP Services/New Hampshire BCTC of New Jersey Felicia Rabito, PhD New Brunswick, New Jersey Tulane University Melissa Perry, ScD Ken Silver, DSc Harvard School of Public Health East Tennessee State University Boston, Massachusetts

33 Oversight and Advisory Boards

Board of Directors Technical Advisory Board

Chairman of the Board and President Co-Chair Mark H. Ayers Anders Englund, MD President, Building and Construction Senior Medical Adviser (Retired) Trades Department, AFL-CIO Swedish Work Environment Authority Washington, DC Co-Chair Secretary-Treasurer Ralph Frankowski, PhD Sean McGarvey Professor of Biometry Secretary-Treasurer, Building and University of Texas Construction Trades Department, Health Science Center at Houston School AFL-CIO of Public Health Washington, DC Robin Baker, MPH Vice President/General Counsel Director, Labor Occupational Richard Resnick Health Program Sherman Dunn, Cohen, Leifer University of California, Berkeley & Yellig, PC Washington, DC Eula Bingham, PhD Department of Environmental Health Executive Director University of Cincinnati Medical School Erich J. (Pete) Stafford CPWR – The Center for Construction Letitia Davis, ScD Research and Training Director, Occupational Health Surveillance Silver Spring, MD Program Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health J. David Beckler Senior Manager, Industrial Relations Denny Dobbin, MSc, CIH Tennessee Valley Authority Environmental Adviser Knoxville, TN Chapel Hill, NC Noel C. Borck Steven Hecker, MSPH Employer Representative Senior Lecturer and Director, Continuing Education and Outreach Iz Cakrane University of Washington Vice President of Labor Relations Washington Division of URS Corporation, James M. Melius, MD, DrPH Princeton, NJ Administrator New York State Laborers’ Health and Reverend James Cletus Kiley Safety Fund The Faith and Politics Institute Washington, DC Linda M. Goldenhar, PhD Assistant Dean Morris M. Kleiner College of Medicine AFL-CIO Professor of Labor Policy University of Cincinnati Director, the Center for Labor Policy Hubert H. Humphrey Institute for Public Melvin L. Myers, MPA Affairs, University of Minnesota Associate Professor Minneapolis, MN University of Kentucky Emory University (adjunct) Tim Reddington President Day & Zimmerman NPS Lancaster, PA Design: Ruth Burke

34 cpwr Staff

Senior Staff Pam Susi, MSPH George Newman Pete Stafford Director, Exposure Assessment Master Instructor Executive Director [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Chris Trahan, CIH Spencer Schwegler Associate Directors Director, OSHA and Disaster Response Disaster Response Training Field Coordinator Janie Gittleman, PhD, MRP [email protected] [email protected] Associate Director, Safety and Health Research Kizetta Vaughn Steve Surtees [email protected] Director, Brownfields Coordinator, Training and Minority Worker [email protected] James Platner, PhD, CIH Training Program Associate Director, [email protected] Alexandra Szymczak Science and Technology Lead and Asbestos [email protected] Mary Watters, MFA Program Coordinator Communications Director Grants Data Manager Mary Tarbrake, MBA [email protected] [email protected] Associate Director, Finance and Administration Laura Welch, MD Field Services Medical Director [email protected] Mike Dorsey [email protected] Directors Field Representative, Janice Wheeler Eastern United States Xiuwen (Sue) Dong, DrPh National Resource Center [email protected] Data Center Director Program Director George Jones [email protected] [email protected] Field Representative Don Ellenberger Trainers/Coordinators [email protected] Director, Hazardous Waste Training Program Gene Daniels Ray Trujillo [email protected] Master Instructor & Lead Field Representative and Asbestos Training [email protected] Michael McCann, PhD, CIH Program Manager Director of Safety Research [email protected] Advisors [email protected] Donald Elisburg, JD Kelly Dykes Senior Environmental Adviser Patricia Quinn Equipment Manager [email protected] Director, Energy Employees and Instructor Department and Small [email protected] Knut Ringen, DrPH Studies Coordinator Senior Scientific Adviser [email protected] [email protected]

PHOTO CREDITS: NIOSH/John Rekus from eLCOSH Images, istockphoto, EarlDotter.com, David Rempel, Jennifer Hess, Louis Kimmel/New Labor, Spencer Schwegler, Don Ellenberger, Kizetta Vaughn, Laura Welch, the BTMed program, and Chris Trahan. COVER: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun, istockphoto. PAGES 5 and 21: NIOSH/John Rekus from eLCOSH Images. PAGE 27: EarlDotter.com. CPWR extends its thanks to John Rekus, a safety and health professional who donated hundreds of his construction site photographs to NIOSH. They form the basis of CPWR’s new photo library, eLCOSH Images,www.elcoshimages.or g. © 2010, CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training. All rights reserved. CPWR is the research and training arm of the Building and Construction Trades Dept., AFL-CIO: CPWR, 8484 Georgia Ave., Suite 1000, Silver Spring, MD 20910. (Mark H. Ayers is president of the Building and Construction Trades Dept. and of CPWR; Sean McGarvey is secretary-treasurer of the Building and Construction Trades Dept. and of CPWR.) Production of this publication was supported by NIOSH grant OH008307 and OH009762, DOE grant DE-FC01-06EH06004, NIEHS grants ES009764 and ES006185, and DOL contract DOLJ059E22270. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily repre- sent the official views of NIOSH, DOE, NIEHS, or DOL. Find more information about our research, training and service work. Visit www.cpwr.com. beginnings endings&

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