Risk of injury related to hours construction employees work
For construction workers, the chance of getting injured or getting more severe injuries are related to the hours they work, research from Oregon State University shows.
Using workers’ compensation claims from the state’s construction industry, researchers looked at more than 12,000 claims in which a work-related injury or illness caused at least three missed days of work, overnight hospitalization, likely permanent disability or death.
They found that the frequency of injuries increased in each of the first four hours of a shift and peaked during the fourth hour.
Workers who started their shift in the evening or at night were more likely to experience injuries and suffer more severe injuries than daytime workers.
Two interventions to help reduce injuries: increased workplace supervision and strict enforcement of mandatory rest and meal breaks.
Source: Safety and Health Magazine
