Description:
Each day, construction workers face injury hazards from falls, machines, electricity, motor vehicles, and other equipment and circumstances. Health hazards posed by construction work can include dusts, fumes, noise, and chemicals. Musculoskeletal disorders can arise from excessive exertion of force, working in awkward positions, repetitive motions, exposure to vibrating power tools, environmental extremes, and other physical and organizational risk factors. NIOSH researchers identify causes of and develop programs and solutions to prevent injuries and fatalities in construction. NIOSH and construction stakeholders have identified fifteen strategic goals identifying specific needs. These are available at HYPERLINK "http://wwwdev.niosh.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/default.html" \t "_blank"http://wwwdev.niosh.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/default.html and they provide additional ideas for innovation research. Some examples of innovation needs include:
A. Development of new designs or controls to reduce various hazards such as noise, vibration, dust emissions, welding fumes, high force exertion, or awkward postures.
B. Development of improved tool designs to reduce various hazards such as noise, vibration, or awkward postures.
C. Information tools to facilitate hazard recognition (e.g. for scaffolds, cranes, excavations) and implementation of precautions on job sites.
D. Development of design approaches for prevention or minimization of hazards and commercialization of these interventions to help get them into use.
E. Development of engineering interventions that reduce fall, electrical, overexertion, or struck-by hazards and commercialization of these interventions to help get them into use.
