From the Desk of Chris Trahan Cain, Executive Director | |
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New Data Bulletin Examines Mental Health Trends Among Construction Workers | |
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Construction workers have the highest overdose death rate and the second highest suicide death rate of any U.S. industry. Those two issues are key elements of the September 2024 edition of CPWR’s Data Bulletin, “Mental Health Trends in the Construction Industry,” which also examines topics such as anxiety, depression, serious psychological distress, seeing a mental health professional, and medication use. In 2021, 15.4% of construction workers reported, based on symptoms or medication, having anxiety or depression, and in 2022, there were 17,100 overdose and 5,200 suicide deaths among those usually employed in the construction industry.
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TOOLS FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH | |
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Revised and Expanded Collection of Mental Health Resources
A new guide to using naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses is the latest addition to CPWR’s revised collection of resources to improve construction workers’ mental health. The materials -- which come from CPWR, NIOSH, OSHA, and others -- respond to the disproportionately high rates of suicide and opioid overdoses among workers in our industry. The pages on those two topics now offer sections on statistics, reports, research papers, handouts like Toolbox Talks and infographics, training programs, and webinars. The new Naloxone Info Sheet for the Construction Sector, which describes how to use naloxone safely, comes in a version that enables organizations to add their own logo; email CPWR if you are interested.
New Fact Sheet Details Hazards of Nanomaterials in Paints and Coatings
Engineered nanoparticles up to 100,000 times smaller than a human hair are increasingly being added to construction materials because of their ability to, for example, fight mold, resist damage, or reduce smog. CPWR’s examination of the potential hazards of these tiny particles, as well as methods to control those hazards, now includes a four-page fact sheet on nanomaterial risks and methods for controlling those risks. The fact sheet includes links to resources from CPWR, NIOSH, and OSHA, as well as discussions of recommended exposure limits and other safety topics.
August Issue of Newsletter on Preventing Deaths from Suicide and Opioids Now Out
NABTU and CPWR have just published the second edition of our newsletter to help the construction industry prevent suicides and deaths from opioids -- REASON (Resources and Effective programs Addressing Suicides and Opioids Now). Each issue of REASON provides comprehensive solutions, important research, and free resources that highlight these issues and the positive steps being taken to address them. Read the second issue and subscribe now; also, sign up for tomorrow’s webinar on suicide prevention below.
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Measuring Injuries Along the Subcontracting Chain in the U.S. Construction Industry.
Kevin Conner, Frederick Purifoy, Kevin Duncan, Peter Philips, Mark Prus, Jeff Waddoups. CPWR Small Study, August 2024. Read the Key Finding and the full report.
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Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. ET (1 hr.)
CPWR-AFSP-CIASP-LHSFNA Webinar on Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry
It’s no longer breaking news that construction workers are dying by suicide far too often, but figuring out why it’s happening and how to prevent it is complicated. To start the webinar, Dr. Amber Trueblood, Director of CPWR's Data Center, will share her findings from two recent peer-reviewed articles and a CPWR Data Bulletin examining trends in suicide, mental health, and related factors.
Following Dr. Trueblood’s presentation, representatives from CPWR and The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) will explain how employers can cultivate a Culture of Care in the workplace, putting a variety of solutions in place to holistically support employees by (a) improving worker wellbeing to prevent employees from considering or attempting suicide, (b) intervening in the event of a crisis, and (c) establishing resources and programs to support those left behind in the event of a suicide death.
Finally, we will wrap up the webinar by sharing useful information and resources from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), CPWR, and CIASP and answering some of your questions.
Moderator: Sonya Bohmann, Executive Director, CIASP
Panelists:
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Amber Trueblood, DrPH, Data Center Director, CPWR
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Jessica Bunting, MPH, Research to Practice Director, CPWR, and At-Large Director, CIASP Board of Trustees
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Jamie Becker, LCSW-C, Director of Health Promotion, Laborers’ Health & Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA), and Chairperson, CIASP Board of Trustees
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Trisha M. Calabrese, MPH, Senior Vice President of Programs, AFSP
Registration: Click here to register and submit questions for our panelists in advance.
Save the Date for These Upcoming Webinars:
Tuesday, October 15th: Head Protection in the Construction Industry: The Basics
Thursday, October 31st: Selection and Practical Use of Head Protection in the Construction Industry
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Job Opening: National Coordinator, Occupational Health Internship Program
The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC), which supports communication among clinics and clinicians dedicated to providing high-quality, worker and patient-centered care to people with work-related injuries and illnesses or with exposures to environmental hazards, is looking for a national coordinator for its Occupational Health Internship Program (OHIP). OHIP is a CDC/NIOSH-funded, nationally recognized program to recruit diverse students into the occupational health professions. Learn more about the position and the application process on the AOEC website. Applications are due September 16.
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