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Intervention research in occupational safety and health: examples from construction
1Center for Protect Workers' Rights, Washington, D.C. 20001, USA.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|April 1, 1996
Summary
A national labor-management initiative significantly boosted construction safety and health research funding and infrastructure. This program aims to reduce construction industry fatality and injury rates by 80%, with early data showing a 20% decline in lost-time injuries.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Safety and Health
- Construction Industry Management
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Construction is a major US industry, yet it has high occupational fatality and workers' compensation costs.
- A significant gap existed in research on construction safety and health issues.
- A national labor-management initiative was established in 1989 to address these problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To improve occupational safety and health within the construction industry through research and intervention.
- To characterize construction safety and health problems and raise awareness among industry decision-makers.
- To develop and implement strategies for reducing injury and fatality rates.
Main Methods:
- Initial phase focused on surveillance, awareness development, and limited interventions.
- Second phase (initiated 1994) concentrated on intervention activities.
- Established a research network, national and regional conferences, and set an 80% reduction goal for injury/fatality rates.
Main Results:
- Federal construction safety and health research expenditure increased from $300,000 (1989) to $12 million (1995).
- A research network of over 30 institutions was created.
- Lost-time injury rates in construction declined by 20% in the most recent reporting years.
Conclusions:
- The joint labor-management initiative has successfully expanded research and infrastructure in construction safety and health.
- The program has laid the groundwork for substantial reductions in occupational hazards.
- Early results indicate a positive impact on reducing injury rates in the construction sector.