50 years of NIOSH Construction Safety and Health Research
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50 years of NIOSH Construction Safety and Health Research

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  • Alternative Title:
    Fifty years of NIOSH Construction Safety and Health Research
  • Personal Author:
  • Corporate Authors:
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
  • Description:
    Construction is a high hazard industry with high rates of illnesses and injuries. The construction industry comprises not only a wide range of activities involving residential and commercial building construction, but also heavy and civil engineering construction, such as water and sewer lines, highways, and bridges. Specialty trades within the sector include masonry, roofing, plumbing, electrical, drywall, painting, and more. Construction also encompasses renovation and demolition of existing structures, which can expose workers to many unknown safety and legacy health hazards such as asbestos and lead.

    Construction jobs are dangerous, resulting in the highest number of fatalities and some of the highest fatality rates of all industries. In 2019, the U.S. construction sector employed approximately 11.4 million workers with numbers still rising after employment in the sector declined during the 2007-2008 economic recession. Over 90% of construction firms in the United States employ 20 or fewer employees. These small businesses often do not have resources for safety and health professionals and programs and they have a fatality rate that is approximately three times that of larger contractors. [3],[4] Nearly 30% of the workforce is of Hispanic origin. [2]

    This year marks the 50th anniversary of NIOSH and the 31st year of the NIOSH Construction Program. In 1970 when NIOSH was created under the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, NIOSH did not have a formal construction program. In its early years, NIOSH researchers addressed relevant construction issues through individual projects and activities overseen by division management. Construction was included in many different surveillance activities and fatality investigations. Ongoing construction-related research included development of analytical methods and engineering controls for measuring and controlling construction hazards, such as silica and asphalt fumes.

    In 1990, NIOSH launched its Construction Program when Congress authorized and provided NIOSH with $1 million in funds to “develop a comprehensive prevention program directed at health problems affecting construction workers.” Subsequently, Congress increased the budget the next four years, 1991–1995, to nearly $4.0 million to support and build the program.

  • Subjects:
  • Series:
    NIOSH science blog
  • Document Type:
    Webpage
  • Name as Subject:
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Construction Safety and Health Research Program
  • Genre:
    Blogs
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