Interventions for preventing injuries in the construction industry

van der Molen H, Lehtola MM, Lappalainen J, Hoonakker PLT, Hsiao H, Haslam RA, Hale AR, Verbeek JH

Summary

Occupational injury rates among construction workers are the highest among the major industries. While several injury control strategies have been proposed by various organizations, their effectiveness for reducing the rate of injuries in the construction industry remains uncertain.

A systematic search of the literature was conducted on preventing occupational injuries among construction workers. The quality of the studies was assessed and the effectiveness of interventions was evaluated. Five studies were identified.

There is moderate evidence that regulation alone is not effective in preventing non-fatal and fatal injuries in the construction industry. There is limited evidence that a safety campaign and a drug-free workplace program are effective in reducing non-fatal injuries in the construction industry.

Introducing regulation alone is not effective in reducing fatal and non-fatal injuries in the construction industry. Additional strategies are needed to increase the compliance of employers and workers to the safety measures as prescribed by regulation. Continuing interventions among management and construction workers, such as a targeted safety campaign or a drug-free workplace program, seem to have an effect in reducing injuries in the longer term.

The vast majority of technical, human factors and organisational interventions which are recommended by standard texts of safety, consultants and safety courses, have not been adequately evaluated; there is an urgent need to address this gap in the evidence base.