270591 Technology Transfer in the Construction Industry

Monday, October 29, 2012

Laura Welch, MD , CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, MD
Robin Baker, MPH , Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Deborah L. Weinstock, MS , National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training, Washington, DC
  
Introduction: Manufacturers equipment for the construction industry have been engaged case by case in research on innovations, but there is no formal mechanism to explore the transfer of safety and health technologies in the construction industry. Methods: We will present findings from a symposium sponsored by The Center for Construction Research and Training in May 2012. The meeting will identify drivers for and barriers to moving new, safer tools and equipment from research to practice in the construction industry. Participants will include academics, construction professionals, manufacturers, and trade association representatives. Results and discussion: The symposium will develop recommendations for building and sustaining a technology transfer function for the construction industry. Issues for discussion include: (1) Intellectual property/patents and the role of exclusive vs. non-exclusive licenses for inventions. (2) Cost factors that impact adoption, such as how to quantify the expenses related to implementing, operating, and/or maintaining new safety and health technologies; degree of worker training needed; impact of innovation on job performance and/or quality of work);. (3) Incentives for tech transfer, including the impact of existing regulations on adoption, whether other incentives are sufficient in absence of regulation, and the availability and access to financial incentives for research, manufacturing, and industry adoption (e.g., research funding, subsidized tool evaluation, tax breaks, insurance premium reductions). (4) How to apply diffusion of innovation theory, including the attributes of an innovation that affect diffusion (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability) and the role of “innovators” and “early adopters” in the construction industry.

Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safety
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Attendees will be able to describe incentives for tech transfer, including the impact of existing regulations on adoption. They will be able to explain the attributes of an innovation that affect diffusion (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability).

Keywords: Injury Prevention, Occupational Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I coordinate ergonomics programs for CPWR and an a team member on implementation of r2p programs. I am coordinating the workshop of which results will be presented. I have over 25 years of experience in both research and prevention activities in the construction industry.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3254.0: Research to Practice in the Construction Industry