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 CPWR UPDATE

 

Issue 48, Oct 2015

  Nanomaterials Present New Questions for Occupational Safety and Health
 
Nanotechnology is transforming many industries, including construction. Nanomaterials are incredibly small - between 1 to 100 nanometers or about a million times smaller than the length of an ant. At this size, materials can take on new properties.

Adding nanomaterials or making changes at this tiny size can transform familiar construction materials into concrete that conducts electricity, glass that cleans itself, and coatings that cut smog. But we are only beginning to understand the possible hazards for workers who handle these materials
 
That's why CPWR has created eLCOSH NANO. Visitors to the site -- affiliated with the popular electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health ( eLCOSH) -- can learn more about nanomaterials used in their trade and access additional information, including training and guidance documents
 
CPWR is moving forward with additional research on nanomaterial exposure risks in our industry. In the meantime, CPWR has created a pocket-sized Hazard Alert brochure with the best known information on the hazard and how to reduce potential risks. If you would like copies of the Alert to distribute in a safety training class or toolbox talk, contact news@cpwr.com. Don't forget to include your postal address and quantity of brochures you need.


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Pete Stafford
Executive Director
    
CPWR WEBINAR


COPD and Construction Workers

October 14th @ 2:00pm (ET), 20 min. -- Dr. John Dement of Duke University will share findings from "A Case-Control Study of Airways Obstruction among Construction Workers," an important examination of COPD in the building sectorClick to register
    
CPWR IN PRINT

Recently Published Journal Articles by CPWR Scholars 


Special Issue: Moving Research to Practice in the Construction Industry. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, August 2015. Issue includes: 

Preventing falls in residential construction: Effectiveness of engaging partners for a national social marketing campaign. Everly Macario, Sandra Wills Hannon, Robin Baker, Christine M. Branche and Christina Trahan.

Moving research to practice through partnership: A case study in Asphalt Paving. Charlotte Chang, Laura Nixon and Robin Baker.

Promoting adoption of fall prevention measures among Latino workers and residential contractors: Formative research findings. Suzanne Teran, Hillary Blecker, Kelsie Scruggs, Javier García Hernández and Barbara Rahke.

Creating a climate for ergonomic changes in the construction industry.  Laura Boatman, Debra Chaplan, Suzanne Teran and Laura S. Welch.

Best practices for health and safety technology transfer in construction. Laura Welch, Dustin Russell, Deborah Weinstock, and Eileen Betit.  

Triage for action: Systematic assessment and dissemination of construction health and safety research. Robin Baker, Charlotte Chang, Jessica Bunting and Eileen Betit.  
 


 

 

ABOUT US

 

CPWR -- The Center for Construction Research and Training is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by North America's Building Trades Unions, AFL-CIO. Working with partners like you in business, labor, government, and the universities, we strive every day to make work safer for the 9 million men and women who work in the U.S. construction industry!