In October 2014, the Prevention Office, Ministry of Labour requested assistance from the Institute for Work & Health to prepare a bibliography of published research on effective policies and practices in the prevention of work-related injury and illness in the construction sector. Employment in the Ontario construction sector is substantial. More than 420,000 people are employed in the sector, representing approximately 6.5% of the Ontario labour force. The construction sector including residential building construction, heavy and civil engineering and non-residential building construction, is active in all regions of Ontario. Much of the construction sector exposes workers to substantial hazards for work-related injury and illness. Construction sector hazards include working at elevated heights and in confined spaces, traffic control during roadwork, hoisting, excavation, repetitive motion, overexertion, electrical and mechanical hazards, poor ventilation and chemical exposures, danger of explosion, and the potential for exposures to asbestos, silica dust, carbon monoxide and noise. In this project, we will review and classify approximately 5,000 published research studies relevant for the prevention of traumatic injuries, non-traumatic injuries and occupational illness and disease in the construction industry.
•To develop a framework for classification of primary hazards in the construction sector in Phase 1.
•To conduct a comprehensive search of peer-reviewed research in Phase 2 which are relevant to the recognition and control of construction hazards defined in Phase 1.
•To review and classify peer-reviewed published research to compile a structured bibliography of titles and abstracts of peer-reviewed published research in Phase 3
The work of this project will summarize research evidence concerning the prevention of work-related injury and illness in the construction sector. This summary will provide guidance to representatives of employers, workers and OHS professionals in the Ontario construction sector concerning promising practices to consider in efforts to reduce the incidence of work-related injury and illness.