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NIOSH - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NIOSH Safety and Health Topic:

Construction

 

 

Each day, construction workers face trench cave-ins, falls, machinery accidents, electrocutions, and motor vehicle incidents. NIOSH researchers identify causes of and develop programs to prevent injuries and fatalities in construction.

Featured Resources:

NIOSH Publications on Construction

Construction

photos of electrician, welder, carpenter

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NIOSHTIC-2 Search

NIOSHTIC 2 search results on Construction
NIOSHTIC 2 LOGO is a searchable bibliographic database of occupational safety and health publications, documents, grant reports, and journal articles supported in whole or in part by NIOSH.

Asphalt

Asphalt Fumes Topic page
Provides links to a series of documents related to occupational asphalt exposure.

Engineering Control Guidelines for Hot Mix Asphalt Pavers Part I New Highway-Class Pavers
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-105 (January 1997)
This document represents the collaborative efforts of industry, labor, and government to protect the health of workers exposed to asphalt fumes during paving operations.

Carbon Monoxide


Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Death After the Use of Explosives in a Sewer Construction Project: Hazard ID 3
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-122 (March 1998)
In a recent incident, three cases of CO poisoning in a confined space, including one fatality, were caused by CO migrating through soil after nearby use of explosives.

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from Small Gasoline-Powered Engines and Tools: NIOSH CDPHE CPSC OSHA EPA Alert
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-118 (December 1996)
Provides examples of occupational CO poisoning, information about health effects, standards, and recommendations for prevention.

Confined Spaces


Confined Spaces Topic page (Traumatic Injury)
Collects links to NIOSH documents and other resources related to confined spaces.

Preventing Occupational Fatalities in Confined Spaces: NIOSH Alert
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 86-110 (January 1986)
Confined spaces may be encountered in virtually any occupation; therefore, their recognition is the first step in preventing fatalities. This Alert requests the assistance of managers, supervisors, and workers in the prevention of deaths that occur in confined spaces.

Drywall

Control of Drywall Sanding Dust Exposures: Hazard Control 30
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 99-113 (June 1999)
Construction workers who sand drywall joint compound are often exposed to high concentrations of dusts and, in some cases, respirable silica.

Electrocution

Electrical Safety Topic page (Traumatic Injury)
Collects links to NIOSH documents and other resources related to electrical safety/electrocutions.

Electrical Safety: Safety and Health for Electrical Trades--Student Manual
DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2002-123 (January 2002)
Part of a safety and health curriculum for secondary and post-secondary electrical trades courses, this manual is designed to engage the learner in recognizing, evaluating, and controlling hazards associated with electrical work.

Worker Deaths by Electrocution
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-131 (May 1998)
This monograph identifies potential risk factors for fatal injury, and provides recommendations for developing effective safety programs to reduce the risk of electrocution.

Preventing Electrocutions of Crane Operators and Crew Members Working Near Overhead Power Lines: NIOSH Alert
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 95-108 (May 1995)
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NIOSH investigations suggest that employers, supervisors, and workers may not be fully aware of the hazards of operating cranes near overhead power lines or may not implement the proper safety procedures for controlling these hazards. This Alert describes six electrocutions that resulted from such hazards and makes recommendations for preventing similar incidents.

Preventing Electrocutions During Work with Scaffolds Near Overhead Power Lines: NIOSH Alert
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 91-110 (August 1991)
NIOSH investigations suggest that many employers, contractors, and workers may be unaware of the hazards of working with scaffolds near uninsulated overhead power lines. This Alert provides case reports, standards, and recommendations for preventing electrocutions from contact between scaffolds and power lines.

Preventing Electrocutions from Contact Between Cranes and Power Lines: NIOSH Alert
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 85-111 (July 1985)
Contact between cranes and overhead power lines is a major cause of fatal occupational injuries in the United States. This Alert provides case reports, standards, and recommendations for preventing electrocutions from contact between cranes and power lines.

Excavation

Preventing Deaths and Injuries From Excavation Cave-Ins: NIOSH Alert
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 85-110 (July 1985)
Workers' compensation claims suggests that excavation cave-ins caused about 1,000 work-related injuries each year.

Falls

Preventing Injuries and Deaths from Falls During Construction and Maintenance of Telecommunication Towers: NIOSH Alert
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001-156 (July 2001)
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Workers involved in construction and maintenance of telecommunications towers are at high risk of fatal falls.

Worker Deaths by Falls: A Summary of Surveillance Findings and Investigative Case Reports
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2000-116
This monograph describes the problem of occupational falls, identifies risk factors for fatal injury, and provides recommendations for developing effective safety programs.

Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths Caused by Falls From Suspension Scaffolds: NIOSH Alert
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 92-108 (August 1992)
This Alert describes five incidents resulting in six deaths caused by falls from suspension scaffolds.

Preventing Worker Deaths and Injuries From Falls Through Skylights and Roof Openings: NIOSH Alert
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-100 (December 1989)
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Investigations by NIOSH suggest that many fatal falls involve work near skylights, skylight openings, and other types of roof openings.

Lead Poisoning

Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance Program (ABLES)
The ABLES program is a state-based surveillance program of laboratory reported adult blood lead levels. It is intended to identify and prevent cases of elevated blood lead levels in adults.

Children of Construction Workers at Increased Risk for Lead Poisoning: NIOSH Update
NIOSH found that children of lead-exposed construction workers were six times more likely to have blood lead levels over the recommended limit than children whose parents did not work in lead-related industries.

Preventing Lead Poisoning in Construction Workers: NIOSH Alert
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 91-116a (April 1992)
Investigations by NIOSH suggest that operations such as abrasive blasting, sanding, burning, cutting, or welding on steel structures coated with lead-containing paints may produce very high concentrations of lead dust and fumes.

Silicosis

Construction Workers: It's Not Just Dust! ...Prevent Silicosis
Pamphlet defines silicosis and covers symptoms, activities in which silica dust may be present, and prevention of the disease.

Silicosis in Sandblasters: A Case Study Adapted for Use in U.S. High Schools
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-105 (June 2002)
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More than 100,000 U.S. workers are in high-risk occupations such as sandblasting. Most sandblasters work in construction and shipbuilding.

Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica: NIOSH Hazard Review
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-129 (April 2002)
This review indicates a significant risk of chronic silicosis for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica over a working lifetime at the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL), the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) PEL, or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended exposure limit (REL).

Preventing Silicosis
Esta Păgina en Espańol En Español
Brief fact sheet explains silicosis, and who may be at risk.

Preventing Silicosis and Deaths in Construction Workers: NIOSH Alert
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DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-112 (1996)
This Alert cites examples of five construction operations that used poor dust controls and two operations that used good dust controls.

NIOSH Issues Nationwide Alert on Silicosis
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 93-123 (November 1992)
Workers involved in rock drilling may be at risk for developing silicosis—a chronic, irreversible, sometimes fatal, respiratory disease which is completely preventable.

Preventing Silicosis and Deaths in Rock Drillers: NIOSH Alert
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 92-107 (August 1992)
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This Alert describes 23 cases of silicosis from exposure to crystalline silica during rock drilling.

Skid Steer Loading

Preventing Injuries and Deaths From Skid Steer Loaders
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-117 (February 1998)
This Alert describes six deaths involving skid steer loaders and recommends methods for preventing similar incidents.

Traffic Related/Motor Vehicle

Motor Vehicles Topic page (Traumatic Injury)
Collects links to NIOSH documents and other resources related tooccupational injury and motor vehicles.

Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths from Traffic-Related Motor Vehicle Crashes
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-142 (July 1998)
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This Alert examines traffic-related motor vehicle crashes that resulted in the death of a person who was at work when the incident occurred.

Other


Providing Safety and Health Protection for a Diverse Construction Workforce: Issues and Ideas
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 99-140 (1999)
As the workforce becomes more diverse, construction industry employers, labor unions, training programs, manufacturers and employees may need to revise traditional practices in order to provide safe, healthy and fair conditions for all.

Construction Safety and Health: Fact Sheet
NIOSH Document #705011 (August 1997)
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Fact sheet explains NIOSH's role in preventing illness and injury in the construction industry.

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