Smoking in Construction Workers: A Study Using the 2006-2007 Current Population Survey-Tobacco Use Supplement

Background: Blue collar workers, particularly in the building trades, are disproportionately affected by tobacco use.

Methods: We compared smoking among male Construction and Extraction workers to workers in all other occupations using a recent nationally representative survey on smoking and occupation: the 2006-2007 Current Population Survey-Tobacco Use Supplement (CPS-TUS).

Results: Construction and Extraction workers reported the highest percentage of current smoking among all occupations (32% vs. 20% for all other occupations combined), and had high rates of ever smoking, defined as having smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime (48% vs. 39%). Construction and Extraction workers began smoking at an earlier age (78% vs. 71% by age 18), smoke more (18% vs. 16% smoke 20 or more cigarettes per day), were less likely to have attempted quitting (62% vs. 66%), and were less likely to intend to quit in the next 6 months (40% vs. 45%). Controlling for age, race, educational level, income, and geographic region by multivariate logistic regression, the risk of ever being a smoker was higher in Construction and Extraction workers compared to other occupations (RR=1.16, 95% C.I. 1.11 -1.20) as was the risk of being a current smoker (RR=1.25, 95% C.I. 1.19 - 1.32).

Discussion: Our findings point to the need for targeted interventions for this high risk population. Further analyses will assess changes in smoking over time, breaking down smoking by different trades within the construction occupation, and a risk factor analysis to find predictors of smoking within the construction occupation.