Electrocution is a leading cause of fatalities in construction, one of OSHA’s “Focus Four” construction safety hazards. In 2015, 82 construction workers died of electrocution, accounting for 61 percent of work-related electrocution fatalities in the United States. A just-published CPWR Quarterly Data Report, “Electrocutions and Prevention in the Construction Industry,” examines the statistics and trends in detail. About one-third (32 percent) of the electrocution fatalities occurred among electrical contractors; among occupations, power-line installers had the highest rate of electrocution deaths. There’s some good news: between 2003 and 2015, the number of electrocution deaths in construction decreased by 39 percent. But … Read more
Study Reveals Visits by Insurance Loss Prevention Reps Linked to Fewer Jobsite Injuries
Insurance loss prevention representatives often help contractors identify ways to improve workplace safety. A CPWR-supported research team at the University of Minnesota recently analyzed data from 1,360 construction-industry policyholders to see if visits by a loss prevention representative reduced lost-time injuries. The research team found a significant reduction after just a single visit, and more contacts showed even greater benefits. Keeping workers from getting hurt is the ultimate goal, but many in the industry need a business case before trying new things. This study proves that injury prevention activities can reduce the lost-time injuries that generate costly injury claims. Click … Read more
National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction Presents Webinar
At 2 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 1, the National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction presents Getting Ready for the 2017 Safety Stand-Down. The speakers for the webinar include: Chris Trahan Cain, executive director, CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training Christine Branche, Ph.D., principal associate director, NIOSH, and director, Office of Construction Safety and Health Dean McKenzie, Director, OSHA directorate of construction Falls are the top cause of construction fatalities and account for 1/3 of on-the-job injuries and deaths in the industry. In 2012, CPWR, NIOSH and OSHA together launched a national construction fall prevention campaign. … Read more
CPWR Offers New Online Safety Climate Assessment Tool
When a company’s management and workers alike believe that safety is valued, recognized and rewarded, that means it has a positive safety climate. Thousands of construction contractors and others in the industry have already used CPWR’s safety climate workbook to review and improve their company’s safety climate across eight leading indicators. Now CPWR has a new S-CAT website that companies can use to learn more about safety climate and complete a Safety Climate Assessment Tool to measure their safety climate maturity in more detail. Visitors to the website learn about safety climate and then can answer the S-CAT questions for … Read more
Report Reveals Construction Worker Perceptions of Worker Safety
Much information about workplace safety and health comes from reports filed by employers. In 2015, the annual National Health Interview Survey included an Occupational Health Supplement – giving workers an opportunity to speak up about safety and health in their workplace. The CPWR Data Center recently analyzed the responses. Among the standout findings: More than 60 percent of American workers consider their workplace “very safe” – but fewer than half of construction workers think so. That’s the lowest number for any U.S. industry except agriculture. Construction workers were far less likely to enjoy workplace access to health promotion programs, such … Read more