Exploring the use of smart phones and mobile applications to document the occupational hazards of immigrant construction workers in a post disaster setting

Background:Following Hurricane Sandy, Make the Road New York, a community- based advocacy organization alongside The Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment developed a mobile phone application to document workplace conditions, report back about their experiences  and the types of hazards they faced.

Methods: Using an open source platform (ODK), an Android based mobile application was designed to capture information and photos on work-site hazards in Sandy affected areas. Sixteen workers were taught to use the application, recognize workplace hazards and document them from various work-sites over the course of four months.  The assessments were reviewed and follow-up meetings were conducted with all the workers. Periodic check-ins were done in person and by phone with those who reported doing tasks where their health was deemed at risk.

Results:175 work-sites were assessed. Within these worksites the frequency of reported hazards were: dust 66%, electric cables 29%, mold 25%, asbestos 16%, heights 17%, and lead removal 18%. In total 316 hazards were reported. Those working in post disaster worksites were more likely to report exposure to mold, electric cables, dust, and asbestos. Data were reviewed with the worker-assessors periodically throughout the initial collection period to gain insight into their experiences using the application. 

Discussion: A mobile application was a useful mechanism for training construction workers to identify and report workplace hazards. Findings are being used to further develop a mobile application that could be used by workers and organizations to document hazards in post disaster settings.