NIOSH Construction Safety and Health Initiatives

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Matt Gillen
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Summary Statement

This presentation by Matt Gillen, Deputy Director of NIOSH's Office of Construction Safety and Health provides an excellent overview of the agency's efforts to reduce injuries and deaths in construction. It covers NIOSH's work on fall prevention, mast climbers, green construction, nail guns, the NORA goals and resources available from NIOSH and CPWR, the NIOSH National Center for Construction Research and Training
March 13, 2013

Matt Gillen, CIH, Deputy Director
NIOSH Office of Construction Safety and Health

2013 Chesapeake Educational Seminar
Laurel, Maryland
03.13.13

Construction worker
(Photo: Matt Gillen)

Preventing Falls in Construction LogoVarious Logos

NIOSH LogoNORA LogoCDC LogoGreen Jobs Logo

OVERVIEW

Disclaimer – The findings and conclusions in this presentation have not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy

“Built Environment” affects and inspires everyone

Every organization sooner or later renovates or builds. Everyone sooner or later has work done on their home.

De Young Museum, San Francisco
De Young Museum, San Francisco Architects: Herzog & de Meuron (Photo: Matt Gillen)

Denver Art Museum
Denver Art Museum Architect: Daniel Libeskind (Photo: Matt Gillen)

Looking at Construction

  • Inherent hazards
  • Mostly small employers
  • High proportion of immigrant workers
  • Highly competitive
  • Hit hard by recession
  • Project vs. employer focus - multiple disciplines and employers
  • Focus on safety…. more than on health

NIOSH Construction Office and Program

NIOSH Construction Program: Established in 1990

NIOSH Office of Construction Safety and Health: Established in 2009

Christine Branche, Ph.D., FACE
Director and Construction Program Manager

Matt Gillen, MS, CIH
Deputy Director and Construction Program Coordinator LCDR

Elizabeth Garza, M.P.H.
Public Health Analyst

NIOSH Construction Page

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/construction/

NIOSH Construction Page

NIOSH Construction Program on Twitter

@NIOSHConstruct

NIOSH Twitter Homepage

NIOSH Construction Safety and Health Program

Web Chart of NIOSH Construction Safety and Health Program

National Construction Center

Case Study

Silica Hazard Alert Hazard Alert in Spanish

Chart Book
New Chart Book Due Out in 2013

Additional resources: ELCOSH

http://www.elcosh.org

eLCOSH Homepage

Additional resources: Construction Solutions

http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org

Construction Solutions Homepage

Additional resources: Silica

http://www.silica-safe.org

Silica Resource

NORA National Occupational Research Agenda

R2P Logo

15 Strategic goals on top construction problems

  • Steer research to problems
  • Go for IMPACT
  • Sector-based solutions

Cover of a NORA PDF
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/comment/agendas/construction/pdfs/ConstOct2008.pdf

NORA Construction Goals

GOALS IN BOLD – SPECIAL FOCUS

OUTCOMES:

1. Falls to a lower level
2. Contact with electricity
3. Struck-by incidents (objects, vehicles, and collapsing materials)
4. Hearing loss
5. Silica
6. Welding fumes
7. Musculoskeletal disorders
8. Construction safety and health culture/climate

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

9. Safety and health management programs
10. Construction industry organization factors
11. Training
12. Health and safety disparities
13. Construction hazard prevention through design
14. Surveillance
15. Engage the Media

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