title: Occupation and work-related ill-health in UK construction workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Construction workers are at increased risk of work-related ill-health (WRI) worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the incidence of medically reported WRI in occupations within the UK construction industry according to job title.
  
  
  METHODS
  We calculated standardized incidence rate ratios (SRRs) using WRI cases for individual job titles returned to The Health and Occupation Reporting network by clinical specialists and UK population denominators. We counted frequencies of reported causal exposures or tasks reported by clinical specialists, occupational physicians and general practitioners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significantly increased incidence of WRI compared with other workers in the same major Standard Occupational Classification, i.e. workers with similar levels of qualifications, training, skills and experience, for skin neoplasia in roofers (SRR 6.3; 95% CI: 3.1-13.1), painters and decorators (2.1; 95% CI: 1.2-3.6) and labourers in building and woodworking trades (labourers, 6.6; 95% CI: 3.2-13.2); contact dermatitis in metal workers (1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.7) and labourers (1.6; 95% CI: 1.1-2.3); asthma in welders (3.8; 95% CI: 2.8-5.0); musculoskeletal disorders in welders (1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.8), road construction operatives (6.1; 95% CI: 3.8-9.6) and labourers (2.5; 95% CI: 1.7-3.7); long latency respiratory disease (mesothelioma, pneumoconiosis, lung cancer, non-malignant pleural disease) in pipe fitters (4.5; 95% CI: 3.2-6.2), electrical workers (2.7; 95% CI: 2.4-3.2), plumbing and heating engineers (2.3; 95% CI: 1.9-2.7), carpenters and joiners (2.7; 95% CI: 2.3-3.1), scaffolders (12; 95% CI: 8-18) and labourers (3.3; 95% CI: 2.6-4.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UK construction industry workers have significantly increased risk of WRI. These data in individual construction occupations can be used to inform appropriate targeting of occupational health resources.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Health Sciences Group, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. ill.stocks@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Stocks
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McNamee
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carder
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hussey
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Agius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060389:Construction Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology