Construction-related Presentations from the October, 2009 National Occupational Injury Research Symposium (noirs)

NOTE: See http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/noirs/2008/participants2008.html for list of participants and contact information Session: A1.0 Title: Describing and Preventing Falls From Heights in Construction Moderator: Paul Becker A1.1 Title: Observation of Fall Risks in Residential Construction Sites Authors: Kaskutas V, Dale AM, Lipscomb H, Gaal J, Fuchs M, Nolan J, Patterson D, Evanoff B Introduction: Workers are exposed to many fall risks at residential construction sites. Methods to quantify these risks are needed. Methods: Two experienced journeymen carpenters used a 52-item validated observational audit to evaluate the fall prevention behaviors of unionized carpenters at residential construction sites in the St. Louis area. Collaboration with the local carpenters’ apprenticeship program, a joint union/contractor partnership, facilitated access to worksites. We computed the frequency of observations meeting the audit safety criteria. Results: Multiple stages of construction were assessed at 197 worksites representing small, medium, and large contractors. Ladders were observed at 72% of the sites; however, extension ladders were not secured 88% of the time and stepladders were used inappropriately 49% of the time. Carpenters stood and balanced on 31⁄2-inch boards, one story in the air while installing floor joists and roof trusses 81% and 93% of the time, respectively. Unprotected walking surfaces were identified with a warning line 18% of the time, and controlled access zones met OSHA guidelines only 2% of the time. Other operations met the criteria for safe work practices consistently. All of the pump jacks observed met safety criteria and roof slide guards were installed correctly 81% of the time. Fall protection equipment was set up correctly but was in use at only 5% of the site. Conclusions: Fall prevention work practices are performed inconsistently at unionized residential construction sites in the St. Louis area. Nonunionized workers may be exposed to even greater fall risks as they rarely participate in formal training programs and may lack other workplace protections. Many of the observed risks could be controlled if safe work practices were followed. Improper ladder use is of concern as ladders are commonly used and ladder use accounts for a large proportion of falls in national injury statistics. A1.2 Title: Interventions for Overhead Drilling in Construction Authors: Rempel D, Star D, Barr A, Gibbons B Introduction: Overhead drilling into concrete or metal ceilings is a common task in commercial construction. It is associated with a risk of falls from ladders and acute arm injuries due to high torques applied to the arm when the drill bit seizes. This project developed, field tested, and refined interventions for overhead drilling that would decrease ladder use and reduce risk of acute injuries to the upper extremities. Methods: The project was conducted in three phases. Each phase involved (1) the development of two or more prototype interventions with input from construction workers; (2) formal field evaluation of the usability, productivity, and safety features of the interventions by construction workers performing overhead drilling in the field; and (3) incorporating recommendations from workers in the next generation of device designs. Results: In Phase I, an inverted drill press and a foot lever design, each able to reach ceiling heights of 11 feet, were compared the usual method for overhead drilling (N = 20). In Phase II, the inverted drill press design was evaluated with three different mobile bases against the usual method (N = 14). In Phase III, the inverted drill press design with a double column, to reach