NIOSH's Six Health Risk Behaviors in Construction

July 8, 2020
Workers in the industry are more prone to certain behaviors that could negatively impact their health.

Construction workers, who often face more physically-intensive tasks in on the job than most in general industry, are prone to engage in riskier health behaviors, according to new findings from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Research from the organization recently was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The study examined six health risk behaviors: smoking, smokeless tobacco use, binge drinking, sleep, seatbelt use and off-the-job physical activity.

"Construction workers are in physically demanding jobs and exposed to many chemical and physical workplace hazards, with falls remaining the leading cause of work-related deaths in construction, accounting for about one-third of the total number of fatalities in this industry," NIOSH wrote in a statement following the publication. "Previous studies suggested that construction workers who exhibit certain health risk behaviors may be more likely to experience work-related injuries."

The study's authors were "interested to explore how common health risk behaviors are among this workforce." Between 2013 and 2016, researchers gathered data via telephone from 38 different construction occupations, including laborers, project managers, those in construction trades and contractors. Workers in 32 states were questioned.

NIOSH researchers stress that targeted interventions as well as health programs could significantly reduce the instance of these behaviors.

Here is a closer look at NIOSH's findings, which are included in the slideshow.

Sponsored Recommendations

3 Essential Elements for a Strong Safety Culture

March 13, 2024
Organizations globally have increased their attention on safety culture: trying to figure out what it really is and the aspects that are necessary to develop and sustain it. And...

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Fighting the Flu: Solutions for the Workplace

March 13, 2024
Seasonal flu continues to wreak considerable havoc both on individual wellness, as well as on our business continuity and productivity. Explore these solutions for protecting ...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!