Silver Spring, MD — The number of construction workers who developed a musculoskeletal disorder that resulted in days away from work decreased more than 20% over a recent 10-year period, a new report shows.
Researchers from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training explored industry trends in MSDs, which include tendinitis, back strains and sprains, and carpal tunnel syndrome. According to the National Safety Council, MSDs are the most common workplace injury and remain the leading cause of disability, early retirement and limitations to gainful employment.
Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the researchers tabulated 33,200 MSDs among construction employees that resulted in days away from work between 2021 and 2022. That’s a steady decrease from the 42,100 MSDs recorded between 2011 and 2012. Likewise, the rate of MSDs dropped to 19.4 per 10,000 full-time equivalent employees from 33.9 per 10,000 FTEs.
Other findings:
- At 25,000, specialty trade contractors (North American Industry Classification System code 238) accounted for an overwhelming majority of the MSDs among construction subsectors. Building construction (NAICS 236) was next with 5,000.
- In 2023, 40.5% of construction employees limited their activities for at least 24 hours after a “likely work-related” repetitive strain injury. For all other industries, that percentage was 31.7.
By major industries, construction had the fifth highest median days away from work because of MSDs, at 15. Information and mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction topped the list at 38 apiece. Utilities (34) was third, followed by transportation and warehousing (29).
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Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication