Silver Spring, MD — Construction workers “face a diverse array of hazards: toxic chemicals, dangerous working conditions and risky body positions, among others,” according to a new report from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training.
The report focuses on occupational, environmental, chemical, ergonomic and physical exposures, and includes exposure scores by industry, common chemical substances and blood lead levels. It draws on information from O*NET Occupational Exposures Data, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, OSHA, and NIOSH’s Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance data.
Results show that nearly 23% of construction workers reported being exposed to hazardous chemicals for at least four hours a week in 2024. That compares with 6.7% of nonconstruction workers.
Other findings:
- Almost 38% of construction and extraction employees “constantly” worked outside in 2024.
- Regarding harmful contaminants, construction workers had an average exposure score of 73.2, compared with 43.6 for those outside the industry.
- When it comes to working at height, construction workers had an average exposure score of 54.9, vs. 14 for other workers.
- Construction workers experienced a 37% decrease in elevated blood lead levels from 2010 to 2023.
“Understanding these patterns is critical to mitigating exposures,” the report states.
It adds: “The decrease in elevated blood lead levels since 2010 represents encouraging progress, but construction workers are still regularly exposed to hazardous chemicals and for longer periods than in all industries combined. Continued efforts are necessary to ensure that construction workers are protected when exposed to hazards like heights, dangerous equipment and job tasks that increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.”
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Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication