Industrial Hygiene in Construction

Construction workers falling is the number 1 cause of death in this industry (residential & commercial).

NIOSH has published a prevention through design (PtD) document for those who design parapets to prevent falls. This document is new. But the principle of it has been around since Moses’ time: “When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof.” Deuteronony 22:8. 

Another good resource: Stop Construction Falls .com. They even have an interesting map which shows where they occur.

The CPWR obtained a NIOSH grant and has some free videos here.

Spring is when the work picks up, be safe out there.

Let’s clarify: You are a working adult. You are feeling symptoms (of some sort). And, you think it’s from something your exposed to while at work (in construction). This could include, but will not, the flu-bug. Below is a list of the most common construction illnesses.

Most Common Construction Illnesses:

1. Upper respiratory
   • could be from silica, drywall, dust, asbestos, nuisance dust, chemicals (I won’t even try to list all of them)
2. Skin (dermal, dermatitis) damage –
   • From: concrete, abrasion, chemicals
3. Eyes
   • mostly from things that get into the eye.
4. Cumulative trauma (ergonomics) or inflammation
   • repetitive motion, over a day hurts, imagine this for years
5. Burn (heat or chemicals)
   • Usually around hot work like welding, but this can occur when using certian chemicals
6. Hearing loss
   • cumulative trama to the ears when exposure is above about 85 decibels for any extended period of time.
7. Poisoning– General or systemic
   • From: poison ivy, stinging needles, dog bites, bees, etc.

This list may vary depending on many things including what type of construction you are in; GC, heavy, civil, specialty, etc.  I put this list together to get a picture of where we see illnesses. However, as previously mentioned, and, everyone knows, the FOCUS FOUR is really where most injuries occur in construction.

We have seen the most prevention of illness due to one single device:

the back support.   ha. just kidding, of course.