Job tasks, potential exposures, and health risks of laborers employed in the construction industry

Abstract

Construction laborers have some of the highest death rates of any occupation in the United States. There has been very little systematic research focused exclusively on "laborers" as opposed to other workers in the construction industry. We reviewed the English language literature and various data bases describing the occupational tasks, exposures, and work-related health risks of construction laborers. The sources of information included 1) occupational mortality surveillance data collected by the states of California and Washington and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); 2) National Occupational Exposure Survey; 3) national fatality data; 4) cancer registry data; and 5) case reports of specific causes of morbidity. While the literature reported that construction laborers have increased risk for mesothelioma, on-the-job trauma, acute lead poisoning, musculoskeletal injury, and dermatitis, the work relatedness of excess risks for all-cause mortality, cirrhosis, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, and leukemia is less clear. Furthermore, while laborers are known to be potentially exposed to asbestos, noise, and lead, and the NIOSH Job Exposure Matrix describes other potential hazardous exposures, little research has characterized other possible exposures and no research has been found that describes the exposures associated with specific job tasks. More advanced study designs are needed that include a better understanding of the job tasks and exposures to construction laborers, in order to evaluate specific exposure-disease relationships and to develop intervention programs aimed at reducing the rate of work-related diseases.

Chronic respiratory disease morbidity in construction workers: patterns and prognostic significance for permanent disability and overall mortality

“…Therefore, the excess morbidity of the unskilled workers compared to the white-collar employees may have been due not only to occupational exposure but also, in part, to differences in environmental factors and personal behaviour. It has been shown, however, that unskilled workers in the construction industry, in particular, face a wide range of hazardous exposures at the workplace, and show widespread adverse health effects [21]. Altogether, however, smoking status was by far the most important risk factor for all morbidity measures investigated in the present study.…”

Construction Equipment and Motor Vehicle Related Injuries on Construction Sites in Turkey

“…The analyses of occupational fatalities in construction have focused on general causes [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] , specific external causes, for example machinery 13) , trench cave-ins 14) , hand tools 15) , falls [16][17][18] , electrocutions 19,20) and specific occupations, such as labourers 21,22) , painters 23) and only focused on pedestrian fatalities 24) . Although occupational injuries caused by motor vehicles have been researched including cost of casualties 25) and focused on roadway construction work zones 26) , detailed research in construction industry are few 27) .…”

Safety and Health in the Construction Industry

“…Predictable occupational ailments include pneumoconiosis of the tunnel builder and the welder; the white finger of the jackhammer operator; low-back pain of the bricklayer; skin allergies of the mason; carpal tunnel syndrome of the iron worker or the electrician; kidney ailments of the painter and the roofer from exposure to solvents; lead poisoning of the bridge rehabilitation worker; asbestosis of the building demolition worker; and heat stress of the hazardous waste cleanup worker (from wearing moon suits) (see 3).…”