Programs to research accidents
By Kurt Esposito
Assistant
Campus Editor
Last year, nationwide, 1,154 construction workers
died while at work and many more were injured as the result of accidents.
Statistics like this one — compiled by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics — has prompted the government to fund
research into what causes these accidents and how to prevent them.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health has awarded Purdue $723,000 to go toward this research. Purdue
will coordinate the project, which is known as the Construction Safety
Alliance, between University of Texas, Austin; University of Florida,
Gainesville; University of Cincinnati Medical School and many construction
companies.
"Everyone is going to be involved because everyone
is affected. We're hoping we can make a difference," said James McGlothlin,
associate professor of health sciences.
The researchers are working on five projects geared
towards reducing serious injuries and fatalities. Two of the projects
will be done at Purdue.
McGlothlin is leading a team that will study how
falls — which cause the most injuries and fatalities in the industry
— occur and how to prevent them. He said many times the falls result
from ladders that are not secured or anchored properly, but the causes
are not completely understood.
"That's the purpose of our research, to get a handle
on all the mechanisms," he said.
Dulcy Abraham, associate professor of civil engineering,
is researching trench operations. She said most of the accidents in
trench operations are caused by cave-ins. Cave-ins can be caused by
vibrations from equipment and the ground settling back into its natural
state.
She said all the research is being done with the
assistance of students who will be able to use what they learn when
they go into the construction business.
Abraham said Purdue already has strong ties to
the industry; many Purdue students have held internships with these
companies.
The companies will assist with the research by
providing information on injuries and fatalities. They will also allow
the researchers to study their work sites and provide them with information
on successful safety practices they have implemented.
Daniel Halpin, head of the department of construction
engineering and management, said the research will benefit companies
by making them safer and allowing them to keep insurance costs down,
which in turn allows them to keep their bids lower.
Most accidents occur in small companies with a
workforce of less than 20 — these companies make up 80 percent
of the industry. He said many small businesses don't have the resources
to enforce safe construction practices.
Several companies with lower fatality rates are
being used as model companies. Halpin is working on developing a Web
site that lists information about what programs and projects have been
successful in making construction sites safer. It will complement another
Web site set up by companies for the same purpose.
The project is scheduled to run for one year. Abraham
said that after it's done Purdue would like to receive more funding
and include more students in the research. She said future projects
would include the safety concerns for nontraditional workers such as
women who use equipment not designed for them.
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