NIOSH Construction Safety and Health Initiatives
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
(Photo: Matt Gillen)
OVERVIEW
- Looking at construction
- NIOSH Construction Office and Program
- Examples of research underway
- Making an impact
- NORA Initiatives
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 Architects: Herzog & de Meuron (Photo: Matt Gillen)
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 Program on Twitter
NIOSH Construction Safety and Health Program
National Construction Center
New Chart Book Due Out in 2013
Additional resources: ELCOSH
Additional resources: Construction Solutions
http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org
Additional resources: Silica
NORA National Occupational Research Agenda
15 Strategic goals on top construction problems
- Steer research to problems
- Go for IMPACT
- Sector-based solutions
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
