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Mandated Rest Breaks and Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in Dallas County, Texas Construction Workers: A
Leah H Schinasi1, Augusta Williams, Alina Schnake-Mahl
1From the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (L.H.S.); Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (L.H.S., A.S.-M.); Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Norton College of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York (A.W.); and Department of Health Management and Policy, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (A.S.-M.).
Objective:
We estimated associations of a rest break ordinance, implemented for construction workers in Dallas, Texas in 2016, with workplace injuries and illnesses.
Methods:
We used workers' compensation claims data to compare changes in rates of injuries and illnesses among Dallas County, Texas construction (ie, "treated") workers with changes in untreated workers, before (2013-2015) and after (2016-2018) a rest break ordinance was implemented.
Results:
Immediately after the ordinance was implemented, rates of injuries/illnesses among treated workers were modestly lower than in comparison workers (rate ratio comparing postmandate vs premandate rates, treated vs comparison workers: 0.89, 95% confidence interval: 0.72-1.11). Postordinance versus preordinance slope trends were similar in the treated versus the comparison group.
Conclusions:
Ten-minute rest breaks were associated with modestly lower rates of workplace injury/illnesses. More comprehensive standards may be needed for protection.
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