NIOSH Construction Program review: expert panel review.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Crytzer K ; Giles BD ; Hatfield TH ; Johnston DW ; Maddux JG
• Description:
  This NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Construction Program Review examines NIOSH's impact on U.S. occupational safety and health in the construction industry from 2007-2017. It is the latest in a series of NIOSH program reviews conducted by independent experts. The reviews provide expert feedback to NIOSH and the Construction Program regarding the relevance and impact, or potential for impact, of their work. This feedback is used to inform future Program decision-making, investments, and intellectual efforts to support NIOSH in its mission to reduce occupational illnesses, injuries, and hazards in the construction industry. The reviews are also conducted to meet the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). Using an evaluation method called "contribution analysis," designed to look at a program's "reasonable contribution" to end outcomes (reductions in fatalities, injuries, illnesses, and hazardous exposures), this Review focused on research and Research to Practice (r2p) efforts in five subject areas defined as high priority and with potential for impact within the NIOSH portfolio. These five areas are: Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure in construction; Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in construction; Noise and hearing loss; Highway work zones; and Preventing falls in construction. NIOSH provided the Panel with a detailed evidence package describing activities, outputs, intermediate outcomes, and end outcomes for the five topics. After reviewing the document, NIOSH and CPWR (Center for Construction Research and Training) staff and researchers briefed Panel members at a face-to-face meeting, where they were provided with additional information and given an opportunity to ask questions and interact with researchers. The Panel then discussed their individual views and developed numeric scores for the NIOSH Construction Program. Consistent with guidance from NIOSH, work on the five subject areas was not scored individually, but considered "as a whole" and given one score. The Review Panel gave the NIOSH Construction Program a total score of 9.5 out of 10. The relevance of the five subject areas was given a score of 5 out of 5, and their impact, or potential for impact, was given a score of 4.5 out of 5. For relevance, this means that the rationale for the activities completed by the Program is highly justified based on burden and need. For impact, the score is approximately midway between 1) major contribution and 2) some contribution and/or demonstrates great potential to contribute to end outcomes or well-accepted intermediate outcomes (see Appendix 2 for the scoring rubric). These scores reflect a very high level of performance within the Construction Program. The Panel also identified specific issues that NIOSH should consider as it shapes the future of the Program. The following findings and recommendations are described in greater detail later in the report. Consistent with its finding that the NIOSH Construction Program is highly relevant and impactful, the Panel recommends that NIOSH continue to conduct basic and applied research to improve construction worker health and safety. The effort should prioritize research in areas where improvement is needed most, as well as maintain a pipeline of research findings and developments for transfer and implementation. The Panel believes that NIOSH r2p efforts have improved the use of its research and products in the construction community. The Panel also believes there is still significant work to be done in this area. The Panel recommends that NIOSH increase its marketing efforts to make construction employers, workers, and safety professionals more aware of the products that could help them improve workplace safety. The Panel recommends additional research on effective methods to train and educate employers, as well as methods to encourage employers to develop and improve their safety and health programs. One strategy may be to emphasize the positive productivity and business effects employers often observe when they implement new or improved safety measures. The Panel was impressed with NIOSH's development and increased use of computer, cell phone, tablet, and Internet-based technologies to accomplish r2p goals. These technologies create efficiencies and opportunities for large-scale impact that would not be possible without them. The Panel recommends that NIOSH produce and disseminate additional software and hardware products that help construction employers, workers, and safety professionals address construction hazards. The Panel noted the challenge posed by smaller construction employers. Their employees are often at higher-than-average risk of injury and fatality because their employers often provide little or no protections. The Panel recommends additional research on methods to reach these employers, help them recognize their safety and health responsibilities, and motivate them to improve their safety practices. The Panel found that many of the more significant intermediate outcomes included design or redesign of construction equipment. Safer construction equipment, when adopted by the industry, provides engineering controls that are more effective than other types of hazard controls. Other NIOSH research projects contributed to more effective personal protective equipment (PPE). The Panel recommends that NIOSH continue to prioritize research and r2p efforts that improve the safety features of PPE and construction equipment. The Panel found that many of the significant intermediate outcomes involved changes to mandatory government standards, voluntary consensus standards, and other influential documents. The Panel recommends that NIOSH continue to prioritize research and r2p efforts that result in safer standards and other influential documents. The Panel found that many of the significant intermediate outcomes were the results of partnerships with various organizations, including construction industry trade associations, professional associations, union organizations, consensus standards committees, and governmental bodies. The Panel recommends that NIOSH maintain their existing relationships and seek out stronger relationships with groups capable of helping them impact construction safety and health. The Panel observed that the construction industry is changing rapidly as a result of advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics and a changing workforce. A critical activity to keep up with these developments and address new safety and health issues is horizon scanning and ongoing feedback from stakeholders. The Panel recommends more frequent reviews of projects within the Program, including ongoing informal feedback from stakeholders. The remainder of this report covers background information, the review process, the Panel scores, more detailed findings and observations, and a fuller discussion of the Panel's findings.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Occupational Health Paint Preceptorship Safety
• Keywords:
  Construction Industry Construction Sector Research Program National Occupational Research Agenda NORA R2p Research To Practice Initiative Review Process Worker Health
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Other
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Georgia ; Idaho ; North Carolina ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-26
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057123
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, contract 200-2017-F-93626, 2018 Oct; :1-26
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:95b1e9632c22121ec698737ceb79ba42dc4bfaa0d0409f896284cd596cabf840438b005873939b08a35384f60625b29f399ac314dbfe2809238042a226dbb807
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/181793/cdc_181793_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 416.80 KB ]