The Collaborative Leadership for Safety and Health in Construction project is underway to build a toolkit to help construction managers, supervisors and workers identify and address safety and health challenges unique to the construction industry, according to Safety+Health magazine.
Led by researchers from the Colorado School of Public Health and the Center for Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace, the project is supported by CPWR—The Center for Construction Research and Training, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The five-year project focuses on safety and mental health challenges in construction, which is an industry known for high rates of injuries, fatalities and psychosocial issues such as suicide and substance use.
Researchers expect the toolkit being developed to create a culture of safety and health that is comprehensive and sustainable by emphasizing collaboration between various levels of the workforce with an aim to contribute to reduced injury rates and enhanced worker health and well-being. The research team will work with industry advisers—such as representatives from academia, labor unions and safety professions—to ensure the toolkit reflects a wide range of perspectives to increase its potential adaptability and effectiveness.
Eight contractors will implement and use the toolkit as researchers evaluate the process. After the evaluation, the toolkit will be disseminated via the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, along with some labor unions, contractor associations, professional safety and health associations, and workers’ compensation insurers.
