Effects of safety and health training on work-related injury among construction laborers.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate the effects of safety and health training on work-related injury in the construction industry.


METHODS
Union health insurance records, union training records, and workers compensation data for 1993 and 1994 were analyzed for more than 8000 construction laborers in Washington State.


RESULTS
After controlling for demographic factors, laborers who received safety and health training during the study period were 12% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.75-1.02) less likely than nontrained laborers to file for workers compensation. Among workers 16 to 24 years old, training was associated with a 42% (95% CI = 0.35-0.95) reduction in claims.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings provide evidence of the effectiveness of safety and health training in preventing occupational injuries among construction laborers, particularly among younger workers. However, the results cover only a limited time and the long-term effects remain unclear.
Dong
Xiuwen
X
Center to Protect Workers' Rights, 8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 1000, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA. SDong@cpwr.com
Entzel
Pamela
P
Men
Yurong
Y
Chowdhury
Risana
R
Schneider
Scott
S
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*