Construction
Outputs: Publications
NIOSH Construction publications of interest
Asphalt
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
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
Preventing Occupational Fatalities in Confined Spaces
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
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: 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
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 95-108 (May 1995)
En Español
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
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
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 and Trenching
Preventing Deaths and Injuries From Excavation Cave-Ins
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.
Trench Safety Awareness Web-based training
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-133D
This Web-based training exercise contains material on conducting a safe trenching operation. Topics include the four types of trench collapse, the frequency and cost of trench collapses, trench soil types, and common trench protective systems.
Falls
Preventing Injuries and Deaths from Falls During Construction and Maintenance of Telecommunication Towers
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001-156 (July 2001)
En Español
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
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
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-100 (December 1989)
En Español
Investigations by NIOSH suggest that many fatal falls involve work near skylights, skylight openings, and other types of roof openings.
Highway Work Zones
Building Safer Highway Work Zones: Measures to Prevent Worker Injuries from Vehicles and Equipment
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001-128 (April 2001)
Lead Poisoning
Children of Construction Workers at Increased Risk for Lead Poisoning
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
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)
En Español
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
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
En Español
Brief fact sheet explains silicosis and who may be at risk.
Preventing Silicosis and Deaths in Construction Workers
En Español
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.
Preventing Silicosis and Deaths in Rock Drillers: NIOSH Alert
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 92-107 (August 1992)
En Español
This Alert describes 23 cases of silicosis from exposure to crystalline silica during rock drilling.
Skid steer loaders
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.
Surveillance
Worker Health Chartbook 2004: Chapter 4 - High-Risk Industries and Occupations: Construction Trades
This section provides data for tracking trends in fatal and nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses among workers in the construction trade.
Traffic and 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)
En Español
This Alert examines traffic-related motor vehicle crashes that resulted in the death of a person who was at work when the incident occurred.
Building Safer Work Zones: Measures to Prevent Worker Injuries from Vehicles and Equipment
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001-128
Describes worker fatalities and injuries in highway work zones and presents measure to prevent injuries.
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
Simple Solutions: Ergonomics for Construction Workers
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-122 (August 2007)
The solutions in this booklet are practical ideas to help reduce the risk of repetitive stress injury in common construction tasks. While some solutions may need the involvement of the building owner or general contractor, there are also many ideas that individual workers and supervisors can adopt.
Proceedings of a Meeting to Explore the Use of Ergonomics Interventions for the Mechanical and Electrical Trades
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006–119
Health hazard evaluation report: Genesis Steel Services, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland
HETA-2003-0146-2976, NIOSH 2005 Jun; :1-30.
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.
Selected Peer-Reviewed Construction Publications
Control of respirable dust and crystalline silica from breaking concrete with a jackhammer
Appl Occup Env Hyg 2003 Jul; 18(7):491-495
Control of Silica Exposure from Hand Tools in Construction: Grinding Concrete
Appl Occup Environ Hyg 2002 Jul; 17(7):457-461
A checklist for the ergonomic evaluation of nonpowered hand tools
Occup Environ Hyg 2004 Dec; 1(12):D135-D145
Prospective noise induced changes to hearing among construction industry apprentices
Occup Environ Med 2005;62:309-317
Development of an overhead power line contact alarm for mobile equipment
Int J Heavy Vehicle Syst 2005 Apr; 12(2):87-103
Noise exposure and overhead power line safety hazards at surface drilling sites
2005 Nov; IC8849:1-10
Occupational Electrical Injuries in the United States, 1992-1998, and Recommendations for Safety Research
J Safety Research 2003 Aug; 34(3):241-248
Test for the Integrity of Environmental Tractor Cab Filtration Systems
JOEH 2:516-523
Reducing Enclosed Cab Drill Operator's Respirable Dust Exposure with Effective Filtration and Pressurization Techniques
Appl Occup Env Hyg 2004, 2:54-63
Occupational fatalities during trenching and excavation work - United States , 1992 - 2001
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 53(15), April 23: 311-314
Estimation of the transmissibility of anti-vibration gloves when used with specific tools
Noise Vib Worldw 2005 Oct; 36(9):11-20
Contact pressure distribution at hand-handle interface: role of hand forces and handle size
Int J Ind Ergon 2005 Mar; 35(3):267-286
Vibration energy absorption (VEA) in human fingers-hand-arm system
Med Eng Phys 2004 Jul; 26(6):483-492
Effect of stainless steel manual metal arc welding fume on free radical production, DNA damage, and apoptosis induction
Mol Cell Biochem 2005 Nov; 279(1-2):17-23
Pulmonary effects of welding fumes: review of worker and experimental animal studies
Am J Ind Med 2003 Apr; 43(4):350-360
Nail Gun Injuries among Construction Workers
Appl. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 18: 374-383, 2003
Falls in residential carpentry and drywall installation: findings from active injury surveillance with union carpenters
J. Occup. Environ. Med. 45: 881-890, 2003
Constructing New Harness Fit Charts Using 3-D Anthropometric Information
Contemporary Ergonomics 2005, Proceedings of the International Conference on Contemporary Ergonomics, April 5-7, 2005, Hertfordshire, England.
Quantitative Assessment of Human Body Shape Using Fourier Analysis
The International Society for Optical Engineering Conference, January 18-22, 2004, San Jose, California
Improving Fall Protection Harness Safety: Contribution of 3-D Scanning
Scanning 2000 - Numerisation 3-D, 5 th ed. Proceedings of the Industrial Congress on 3-D Digitizing, May 24-25, 2004, Paris, France. Dinard Cedex , France : Harbour, p. 117-128.
Anthropometric Procedures for Design Decisions: From Flat Map to 3-D Scanning
Contemporary Ergonomics 2004: Proceedings of the Ergonomics Society Conference, April 2004, Boca Raton , Florida . CRC Press, p. 144-148.
Digital measurement of human proximity to electrical power circuit by a novel amplitude-shift-keying radio-frequency receiver
IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS), May 23-26, 2005, Kobe Japan . New York : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, p. 576-579.
Electrical Injury Protection System Using Radio Frequency Transmission
United States Patent and Trademark Office, Patent No. 6,897,783 May 24, 2005
Using Guardrail Systems to Prevent Falls through Roof and Floor Holes
Paper in: Safety 2005, Proceedings of the American Society of Safety Engineers Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 13-15, 2005, Session No. 601, 18 pp.
Estimated Costs of Injuries Caused by Falling Through Roof Openings, Surfaces, and Skylights
NOIRS 2003-Abstracts of the National Occupational Injury Research Symposium 2003
Falls Through Roof and Floor Openings and Surfaces, Including Skylights: 1992-2000
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, (Dec) 130(6): 985-907.
Footwear Effects on Workers' Instability in a Virtual Roof Workplace
American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHCE), May 21-26, 2005, Anaheim , California . Fairfax , Virginia : American Industrial Hygiene Association, p. 49-50.
Control and Perception of Balance at Elevated and Sloped Surfaces
Human Factors, 45(1): 136-147
