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Â鶹ÊÓƵ UPDATE
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March 2019
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From the Desk of Chris Trahan Cain, Executive Director
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Â鶹ÊÓƵ Recognized for
Innovation in Construction
On March 12th, Â鶹ÊÓƵ will receive the 2019 Henry C. Turner Prize for Innovation in Construction from the Turner Construction Company and the National Building Museum. This award, named after the founder of Turner Construction Company, recognizes an invention, an innovative methodology, and/or exceptional leadership by an individual or team of individuals in construction technology, including construction techniques, innovations and practices, project management, and engineering design.
In announcing the award, Peter Davoren, president and chief executive officer of Turner Construction Company, pointed to Â鶹ÊÓƵ's "tremendous commitment to help the construction industry eliminate or reduce hazards and promote the safety and welfare of construction workers..." and the difference Â鶹ÊÓƵ is making by bringing "research into action with large, medium and small contracting companies as well as with trade labor."
In addition to acknowledging the Center's overall contributions to promoting and improving safety conditions in the construction industry, the prize recognizes the dedication and contributions of Dr. Linda Goldenhar, our Director of Evaluation and Research, for her work to strengthen jobsite safety climate. (Click here to learn more about Â鶹ÊÓƵ's research and tools to strengthen the industry's safety culture and climate).
I wanted to share this award with our Update readers, because we would not be able to conduct industry-driven research on existing and emerging hazards without your ongoing support and active engagement in our research projects.
We plan to use the honorarium that comes with this prize to explore novel ways to reach small employers, understand their needs, and encourage their adoption of proven strategies to improve safety and health on the job.
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TOOLS FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH
New Solution to Protect Against Hearing Loss
Repeated overexposure to noise causes permanent hearing loss and other health issues (see Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention Training Program). use a special membrane to filter out louder noises, without masking lower-level noises that are important for safety and communication, such as back-up alarms and coworker's voices. To find this and other solutions for jobsite hazards visit .
Spray Painting and Sanding Nano-Enabled Paint Toolbox Talk
Nano titanium dioxide is a common nanomaterial added to paints. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) believes nano titanium dioxide might be harmful to workers because it causes lung damage and cancer in lab animals. This Toolbox Talk introduces the health risks faced by workers using nano-enabled paint and protective measures that should be taken.
Nail Gun Infographics Now Available in Spanish.
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DATA TRENDS
According to Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Data Center, 2017 ladder fatalities declined 13% from the year before. While any downward trend is positive, construction workers still accounted for 58% of the work-related fatalities involving ladders among U.S. workers, despite construction making up only about 6% of the total U.S. workforce. To learn how to prevent construction falls and find materials and resources, including new hard hat stickers for this year's Safety Stand-Down, visit .
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RESEARCH NEWS
Exposure to organophosphate flame retardants in spray polyurethane foam applicators: Role of dermal exposure
Anila Bello, Courtney Carignan, Yalong Xue, Heather Stepleton, and Dhimiter Bello. Environment International.
Using Delphi Panels to Assess Construction Safety Research to Practice: A Narrative Review
Stephanie Mazzucca, Christopher Weatherly, Alexandra B. Morshed, Rachel Tabak,. Â鶹ÊÓƵ Report.
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Wednesday, March 20th, 2019 at 2:00pm ET (1 hour): The National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction: Getting Ready for the 2019 Safety Stand-Down. Falls are the top cause of construction fatalities and account for one-third of on-the-job injuries in the industry. In 2012, Â鶹ÊÓƵ, NIOSH, and OSHA launched a national construction fall prevention campaign. Please join Scott Ketcham, Acting Director, OSHA Directorate of Construction, Scott Earnest, Deputy Director for the NIOSH Office of Construction Safety and Health and Coordinator for the Construction Sector, and Chris Cain, Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Executive Director to learn about past campaign successes, and plans for the May 6-10 2019 National Safety Stand-Down.
Thursday, March 21st, 2019 at 2:00pm ET (1 hour): Assessment and control of exposures to ISOCYANATES in industrial coating applications. Presented by Dr. Dhimiter Bello, Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell. This hour-long webinar will present researchers' findings on occupational exposures to isocyanates among construction painters working in metal structure coating. Isocyanates are potent respiratory and dermal sensitizers and a leading cause of occupational asthma worldwide. Field investigations were conducted at various worksites in Massachusetts, including bridges, water tanks, a reactor dome, and wind turbines. The presentation will summarize work practices at these construction sites; present findings on inhalation and dermal exposures to isocyanates; and discuss effectiveness of exposure controls among painters using urinary biomonitoring pre- and post-shift. In addition, our presenters will discuss the adequacy of current exposure controls and provide recommendations to further reduce isocyanate exposures among painters during steel structure coating in construction trades.
Did you miss our last webinar Incorporating Ergonomics into a Construction Safety Management Program? to view it on-demand. For access to a complete list of and access to recordings of past webinars, click here.
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Â鶹ÊÓƵ Studies: Mixed Reality & Remote Collaboration in Construction. Professional Safety Journal, January 2019 - click here for the full study
ConstructorCast: The Opioid Crisis & Construction.
Opioids and Worker Health.
Free Tools & Resources to Help with Silica Standard Compliance.
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