Construction workers are exposed to a wide variety of occupational hazards. Estimates of the occupational fatality rate of construction workers range from 11 to 24 per 100,000 per year. The most common causes of such fatalities have been well described, namely, falls, electrocutions, being struck by objects, and motor vehicle crashes. It is known that construction workers are also killed by acute exposures to hazardous substances. Such toxic fatalities have not previously been characterized and are subject of the present investigation. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintains a database of investigations into occupational fatalities. A copy of the dataset was obtained with records of OSHA investigations of over 10,000 construction industry fatalities over a 13 year period. The data was analyzed in order to characterize the frequency with which such toxic fatalities occur; the hazardous substances involved; the factors that put workers at increased risk for such fatalities. Factors analyzed include characteristics of the workers killed, such as age and gender; as well as those of workforce (size of construction company; whether the workforce is unionized or not; the subtype of construction work being done). The human and environmental factors the contributed to the fatality (as identified by the OSHA investigation) were also reviewed. Fatalities due to occupational exposures to toxins are largely preventable. The findings of this study are a first step towards identifying high-risk substances/workers/environments so that effective preventive measures may be implemented.
Learning Objectives: 1. Participants in the session will learn about the toxins that result in the largest number of construction worker fatalities. They will also learn about the risk factors for such fatalities. Additionally, the utility of analyzing an OSHA dataset will be explained. 2. Participants can expect to: A. To recognize toxins that have killed the largest numbers of construction workers. B. To identify work settings that put workers at risk for poisoning deaths. C. To prioritize work settings for implementation of preventive efforts. D. To recognize the way that previously collected data can be analyzed in public health research. 3. At the conclusion of the session participants will be able to: A. Name the 3 chemicals that have killed the most construction workers. B. Identify 2 characteristics of work settings that put construction workers at risk for poisoning death. C. Identify opportunities for prevention of construction worker fatalities. D. Name two benefits of database analysis in public health research. Teaching objectives: During the session faculty will discuss finding s of reseach into the causes of and risk factors for toxic fatalities of construction workers
Keywords: Toxicants, Occupational Injury and Death
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.