Safety was once defined as preventing physical injury on the jobsite, but more recently the construction industry has recognized that safety should be approached in much broader terms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates among male construction workers are 75% higher than men in the general population.
Any comprehensive and effective effort to protect skilled workers must consider three interrelated and critical factors:
- Injury Prevention – How do we prevent immediate physical harm to workers on the jobsite?
- Long-term Health – How do we protect the long-term physical well-being of the worker, preventing injury from overuse or overexposure?
- Mental Wellness – How do we identify and help the worker’s mental and emotional health?
As the industry recognizes Construction Safety Week May 5-9, now is a good time to reassess the role each of us can play in addressing the complete ecosystem of safety measures.
The Hierarchy of Controls from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provides a strategic framework for manufacturers to help preserve long-term health of the construction workforce. When coupled with a focus on mental health, the industry can better provide a holistic approach to safety.
Elimination Controls
The hierarchy consists of several types of interventions, with those at the top of the inverted pyramid being the more effective because they require minimal or no interactions on the part of the worker. The most effective intervention, therefore, is Elimination: the removal of the hazard. The advancement of battery technology in recent years, for example, has enabled toolmakers to eliminate electrical cords from tools, a tremendous advancement in terms of convenience but also safety, since cords present tripping and cutting hazards. The more recent electrification of concrete construction equipment, such as rammers, compactors, vibrators and screeds, is another Elimination Control through the removal of fume inhalation.
Substitution Controls
Most innovations in the tool and equipment space occur in the next two layers of the Hierarchy: Substitution and Engineering Controls. A successful Substitution is often a power tool that takes the place of a hazardous or intensive manual process. A powered cable stripping tool, for example, removes the outer sheath of heavy electrical cable in seconds, replacing the riskier process of removing the sheath with a knife. Cable tray cutters, cable cutters, cable crimping tools, and threaded rod cutters are iterations of the same type of Substitution: they are compact battery-driven tools that replace a manual process, which often involves an open blade.
Engineering Controls
Engineering Controls aim to prevent hazards from harming skilled workers: think mechanisms and technology for dust control (dust extractors and shrouds), vibration control (shock absorbing features), and enhanced user control (anti-rotation technology).
However, to take these measures a step further, we can look to data. Through connected tool software, users now have access to actionable insights that can inform them of a situation that needs attention. For example, a safety manager may be alerted of a recurrence of bind-ups. This real-time visibility allows intervention and correction before a safety incident occurs.
In some cases, Engineering Controls have been developed collaboratively between contractors and tool manufacturers. Rosendin Electric, the largest employee-owned electrical contractor in the US, for example, observed that their workers were at risk when cutting pipe with a handheld bandsaw. Workers were operating the saw with the right hand and using the left hand to catch the piece of cut pipe leading to a situation in which downward follow-through with the bandsaw could result in contact with the left hand. DEWALT’s solution was a modification that required the bandsaw to be held with two hands before the tool will power on, keeping the hand that is not in use out of harm’s way.
Administrative Controls
Administrative controls are changes in the way people work, often resulting from management decisions or enabled by technology. These controls can reduce the duration, intensity or frequency of a hazard like manual material handling, which is often cited as the leading cause of workplace injuries. For example, electric vacuum lifters have changed the way workers lift things by allowing them to position their bodies in a way that helps protect them from strain. Fastening onto flat surfaces with enough force to create a reliable handhold, electric vacuum lifters enable workers to lift bulky objects with relative ease, like sheets of drywall or plywood, plate glass, stone blocks, doors or large-format tiles.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Controls
Personal protective equipment (PPE) occupies the lowest tier on the pyramid, but it is still critically important. It is often the last defense standing between a worker and an injury. Traditionally, PPE was relatively low tech, but recently, sensors, near-field communications (NFC) and other technologies have opened up new frontiers. Smart helmets can detect environmental hazards like extreme heat or dangerous movements, and many wearables, including helmets, vests and harnesses, can store electronic documentation like safety records and emergency information.
Conclusion: Innovation and a Supportive Culture are Key
While the NIOSH Hierarchy is an impactful framework for manufacturers to protect physical well-being, another dimension of safety – mental health and wellness – is imperative. While innovation around injury prevention should continue to move forward, cultural shifts to support workers through resources focused on mental health are vital to a labor force that is disproportionately affected by drug overdose and suicide.
Physical and mental well-being must be held in the same regard to create an effective, holistic safety approach. The CDC and NIOSH offer guidance to help prevent suicide, the majority of which can be implemented by the industry, including:
- Creating protective environments through healthy organizational policies and culture
- Improving access and delivery of suicide care; for example, increasing provider availability and access to rapid and remote help
- Promoting healthy peer norms to remove the stigma of asking for help or care
- Teaching coping and problem-solving skills; for example, supporting social-emotional learning programs
- Preventing future risk by providing support for those bereaved or impacted by suicide
Resources and help are available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
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