A research to practice initiative in construction safety and health

A 2009 review of construction research at NIOSH by the National Academies recommended a major emphasis on two critical areas: how to get vital information to the worker “in the trench” or “on the steel,” and how to persuade contractors and workers to effectively use interventions developed through research. CPWR: The Center for Construction Research and Training has launched a new “research to practice” (r2p) initiative to address this challenge, in collaboration with NIOSH and OSHA. It takes a multi-faceted approach to building r2p pathways, including: 1) conducting a strategic review of recent research in order to identify and promote next steps toward injury and illness prevention; 2) crafting and evaluating efforts to translate high-priority research findings for user audiences and decision-makers and to promote widespread adoption of safety and health innovations; 3) building r2p planning into early stages of current construction health and safety research; 4) understanding and replicating successful partnerships that involve multiple stakeholders in changing construction safety culture and practices; and 5) building r2p capacity through lessons learned, practical tools, and other resources. We will present the first of these steps, including the protocol and materials developed to “triage” completed research based on strength of design and potential for impact, dissemination, and adoption. Early results will be presented, looking at: the range of methods used to disseminate research results before and after triage; levels of change targeted, from individual workers or contractors to societal interventions at the policy level; and effectiveness of the triage tool and process.