Interventions to prevent injuries in construction workers

Abstract

Background Construction workers are frequently exposed to various types of injury-inducing hazards. A number of injury prevention interventions have been proposed, yet their effectiveness is uncertain. Objectives To assess the effects of interventions to prevent injuries in construction workers. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Injuries Group's specialised register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, OSH-ROM (including NIOSHTIC and HSELINE), Scopus, Web of Science and EI Compendex to September 2011. The searches were not restricted by language or publication status. The reference lists of relevant papers and reviews were also searched. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials, controlled before-after (CBA) studies and interrupted time series (ITS) of all types of interventions for preventing fatal and non-fatal injuries among workers at construction sites. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently selected studies, extracted data and assessed study quality. For ITS, we re-analysed the studies and used an initial effect, measured as the change in injury-rate in the year after the intervention, as well as a sustained effect, measured as the change in time trend before and after the intervention. 1 Interventions to prevent injuries in construction workers (Review)

Applying HRO and resilience engineering to construction: Barriers and opportunities

“…However, in terms of successful interventions to prevent fatal injuries in construction sites, a recent review (van der Molen et al, 2012) concluded that regulation, training, inspections, and occupational health services are ineffective. Safety culture has also struggled to establish itself as a research topic in construction, emerging later than in other industries and declining since 2008 (Zhou et al, 2015).…”

Ergonomics at 60: mature, thriving and still leading the way

“…van der Molen et al 2012;Leider et al 2015;Chang et al 2016). We hope to be publishing papers that build the evidence base for ergonomics interventions: high quality studies, prospective rather than cross-sectional designs and robust sample sizes.…”

Active behaviour change safety interventions in the construction industry: A systematic review

“…The remaining interventions were effective but poor methodological quality and significant heterogeneity meant that the means by which these interventions changed behaviour was unclear. In an updated review in 2012 (13 studies; van der Molen et al, 2012), it was similarly concluded that there was no evidence that the introduction of safety legislation/regulations alone or that regionally-oriented interventions such as inspections or training were effective in reducing injuries. There was, however, low-level evidence that company-oriented interventions (e.g., multifaceted safety campaign, drug-free workplace) resulted in reduced injuries (van der Molen et al, 2012).…”

“…In an updated review in 2012 (13 studies; van der Molen et al, 2012), it was similarly concluded that there was no evidence that the introduction of safety legislation/regulations alone or that regionally-oriented interventions such as inspections or training were effective in reducing injuries. There was, however, low-level evidence that company-oriented interventions (e.g., multifaceted safety campaign, drug-free workplace) resulted in reduced injuries (van der Molen et al, 2012). Another review of three interventions specifically to reduce falls in the construction industry also found limited evidence for effectiveness (Rivara and Thompson, 2000).…”

“…The purpose of the present review was to extend the previous reviews (Lehtola et al, 2008;van der Molen et al, 2012), firstly by including interventions that targeted safety behaviours in addition to those that solely measured injury rates; and secondly, by focusing more explicitly on the intervention characteristics (e.g., use of theory, behaviour change techniques (BCTs), and intensity/frequency/duration) that were most commonly associated with effectiveness. Indeed, this was identified as a limitation of the previous review (van der Molen et al, 2012) and thus represents an important research question.…”