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Injury surveillance in construction: injuries to laborers
L S Welch1, K L Hunting, J T Anderson
1Department of Medicine, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA. lxw6@mhg.edu
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|September 22, 2000
Summary
Construction laborers face disproportionately high risks of injury and death compared to other workers in the large U.S. construction industry. This study highlights their elevated risk within this high-accident sector.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Industrial Safety
- Construction Management
Background:
- The U.S. construction industry is a major employer, with over 7.5 million workers.
- The industry experiences a significantly higher accident rate per capita than other sectors.
- Laborers constitute one of 15 distinct job classifications within construction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and quantify the elevated risks faced by construction laborers.
- To compare injury and fatality rates of laborers against other construction roles.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of accident data within the U.S. construction industry.
- Comparative risk assessment across different job classifications.
- Focus on laborers as a key occupational group.
Main Results:
- Construction laborers exhibit a higher incidence of death and injury.
- This elevated risk is attributed to various occupational hazards specific to their roles.
- Laborers face greater dangers than the average construction worker.
Conclusions:
- Construction laborers are a high-risk group requiring targeted safety interventions.
- Further research is needed to understand specific causes of elevated risk.
- Enhanced safety protocols are crucial for this vulnerable workforce.