제  목 : Protecting construction workers from injury and disease
  일  자 : 1997년 06월
  제공처 : SAFETY AND HEALTH

 Protecting construction workers from injury and disease is among the greatest
 challenges in occupational Safety and health.

     More than 7 million persons are employed in construction, representing 5%
     of the labor force.
     About 1.5 million are self-employed.

     Of 636,000 construction companies, 90% employ fewer than 50 workers.
     Few have formal safety and health programs.

     1,000 construction workers are killed on the job each year, more fatal
     injuries than in any other industry.

     3,491 construction workers fell to their deaths between 1980 and 1989.

     15% of workers' compensation costs are spent on construction injuries.

     Assuring safety and health in construction is complex, involving shortterm
     worksites, changing hazards, and multiple operations and crews working in
     close proximity.

In 1990, Congress directed NIOSH to undertake research and training to reduce
diseases and injuries among construction workers in the United States.

NIOSH Makes a Difference in the Health of Construction Workers

NIOSH and construction industry partners are collaborating to develop new
strategies to reduce worker exposures to potentially hazardous substances.
Examples include:

Controlling Lead Toxicity in Bridge Workers

Each year, 58,000 persons work in bridge, tunnel, and elevated highway
construction and demolition jobs; about 90,000 bridges are coated with paint
containing lead, creating the potential for dangerously high worker lead
exposure.

With funding from NIOSH, Connecticut state agencies and Yale University
initiated the Connecticut Road Industry Surveillance Project (CRISP) to reduce
lead toxicity in bridge workers. CRISP provides
medical examinations and procedures to monitor and reduce occupational lead
exposures at bridge
sites; onsite technical assistance to overcome problems in reducing lead
exposures; and a centralized,
statewide surveillance system to monitor blood lead levels in workers.

CRISP saves Connecticut $2.5 million each year in workers' compensation costs.
With CRISP, blood lead levels have decreased by 50%. Efforts are underway to
implement this approach in other states.

Controlling Asphalt Fume Exposures During Paving

500,000 workers are exposed to asphalt fumes while paving roads, roofing, and
waterproofing. Molten asphalt generates fumes that can cause skin diseases and
eye and respiratory tract irritation. NIOSH laboratory studies found that
asphalt fume extracts have potential cancer-causing and mutagenic properties.

The Department of Transportation and NIOSH are evaluating industry developed
technology to control exposures to asphalt fumes in road paving. NIOSH's
involvement was requested by the National Asphalt Pavement Association, the
industry organization of asphalt paving equipment manufacturers.
Manufacturers developed and NIOSH evaluated prototype systems that reduce
exposures by capturing fume emissions from paving equipment. NIOSH researchers
are assisting the manufacturers in redesign efforts to reduce emissions.
Preliminary results suggest these control systems will dramatically reduce
worker exposures to asphalt fumes. (See: ENGINEERING CONTROL GUIDELINES FOR HOT
MIX ASPHALT PAVERS- Part 1: New Highway-Class Pavers)

NIOSH Makes a Difference in the Safety of Construction Workers

Each day, construction workers face trench cave-ins, falls, machinery accidents,
and electrocutions.
NIOSH researchers identify causes of and develop programs to prevent injuries
and fatalities in construction. Examples include:

Preventing Electrocutions of Crane Operators and Crew Members

Each year, electrocutions represent 7% of injury related fatalities. NIOSH
onsite investigators found that 13% of work related electrocutions involved
crane contact with overhead power lines.

After evaluating the circumstances of these electrocutions, NIOSH disseminated
two Alerts (#1; #2)that describe procedures and precautions to assure safe crane
operation around power lines. Following issuance of these Alerts, crane
electrocutions declined.

NIOSH Research Solves Safety and Health Problems in Construction

From October 1993 through March 1996, NIOSH researchers conducted 43 health
hazard evaluations for construction industries and responded to 171 construction
-related calls on the NIOSH 800 number.

To request a NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation or for more information on
occupational safety and health issues call toll free:

                 1-800-35-NIOSH       (1-800-356-4674)

For a complete listing of documents available on the CDC Fax Information Service
call 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299) and request document #000006. This
information is also available on the Internet at CDC's web site.
                         Document #705011