Authors
Kaskutas-VK; Dale-AM; Lipscomb-HJ; Evanoff-BA
Source
Int J Occup Environ Health 2008 Oct-Dec; 14(4):243-249
Abstract
We describe the development and pilot testing of the St. Louis Assessment of Fall Risks, a worksite audit to assess fall prevention safety practices on residential construction sites. Surveillance data and feedback from carpenters and safety instructors regarding work tasks associated with falls from heights were used to develop the audit instrument. The audit focuses on the framing process, including general safety climate/housekeeping, floor joist/sub-floor installation, walking surfaces/edges, wall openings, truss setting, roof sheathing, ladders, scaffolds, and personal fall arrest equipment. The audit was tested at sixteen residential construction sites, documenting excellent inter-rater reliability (kappa = 0.93). Results suggest that the audit has good face and content validity and is a reliable instrument for measuring fall safety risks at residential construction sites. It is practical, easy, and safe to administer, making it a potentially useful instrument for field research as well as regular safety monitoring by foremen and crew.
Keywords
Construction; Construction-materials; Construction-workers; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Epidemiology; Surveillance-programs; Statistical-analysis; Occupational-accidents; Occupational-hazards; Construction-industry; Safety-measures; Safety-practices; Safety-research; Work-areas; Work-practices; Workplace-monitoring; Workplace-studies
Contact
Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8505, St. Louis, MO 63108
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
kaskutasv@wustl.edu
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
Identifying No.
Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U54-OH-008307
Source Name
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
Performing Organization
Center to Protect Workers' Rights