Work Stress Induced Chronic Diseases in Construction


Book Description

This book aims to fill a gap in the current construction health and safety research and discover new knowledge about work stress induced chronic diseases among construction industry professionals. In achieving these aims, the book investigates: the nature and extent of psychosocial stressors experienced by construction professionals, stress management tactics applied and the impact on mental health the prevalence and occurrence patterns of serious chronic conditions such as insomnia, obesity, musculoskeletal disorders and vision impairment aetiological pathways from job stressors through chronic diseases to job performance. While there are many studies, policies and regulations aiming to look after the health of construction workers, little attention is paid to construction professionals. By applying advanced analytical methods to data collected in a national survey of construction professionals in Australia, the author presents new scientific evidence which can be used to help establish equitable workers' compensation treatments and outcomes for construction professionals in line with other professions. Moreover, the research and analysis are underpinned by theories and literature from public health and epidemiological disciplines in addition to literature from construction, and work health, safety and wellbeing domains. It is essential reading for any health policy makers and researchers in the fields of health and safety and construction management.




Work Stress Induced Chronic Diseases in Construction


Book Description

This book aims to fill a gap in the current construction health and safety research and discover new knowledge about work stress induced chronic diseases among construction industry professionals. In achieving these aims, the book investigates: the nature and extent of psychosocial stressors experienced by construction professionals, stress management tactics applied and the impact on mental health the prevalence and occurrence patterns of serious chronic conditions such as insomnia, obesity, musculoskeletal disorders and vision impairment aetiological pathways from job stressors through chronic diseases to job performance. While there are many studies, policies and regulations aiming to look after the health of construction workers, little attention is paid to construction professionals. By applying advanced analytical methods to data collected in a national survey of construction professionals in Australia, the author presents new scientific evidence which can be used to help establish equitable workers' compensation treatments and outcomes for construction professionals in line with other professions. Moreover, the research and analysis are underpinned by theories and literature from public health and epidemiological disciplines in addition to literature from construction, and work health, safety and wellbeing domains. It is essential reading for any health policy makers and researchers in the fields of health and safety and construction management.




Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace


Book Description

Every year workers' low-back, hand, and arm problems lead to time away from jobs and reduce the nation's economic productivity. The connection of these problems to workplace activities-from carrying boxes to lifting patients to pounding computer keyboards-is the subject of major disagreements among workers, employers, advocacy groups, and researchers. Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace examines the scientific basis for connecting musculoskeletal disorders with the workplace, considering people, job tasks, and work environments. A multidisciplinary panel draws conclusions about the likelihood of causal links and the effectiveness of various intervention strategies. The panel also offers recommendations for what actions can be considered on the basis of current information and for closing information gaps. This book presents the latest information on the prevalence, incidence, and costs of musculoskeletal disorders and identifies factors that influence injury reporting. It reviews the broad scope of evidence: epidemiological studies of physical and psychosocial variables, basic biology, biomechanics, and physical and behavioral responses to stress. Given the magnitude of the problem-approximately 1 million people miss some work each year-and the current trends in workplace practices, this volume will be a must for advocates for workplace health, policy makers, employers, employees, medical professionals, engineers, lawyers, and labor officials.




Stress in Post-War Britain, 1945–85


Book Description

In the years following World War II the health and well-being of the nation was of primary concern to the British government. The essays in this collection examine the relationship between health and stress in post-war Britain through a series of carefully connected case studies.




Occupational Diseases in the Construction Industry


Book Description

Despite occupational diseases in construction contributing to a significant proportion of fatalities, and permanent and temporary incapacities, they have not gained as much attention as occupational injuries from practitioners and researchers. The research in this book aims to discover occupational diseases that cause fatalities and permanent and temporary incapacities in the construction industry, along with their epidemiological causal mechanisms. Through chapters examining cancers, circulatory system diseases, respiratory system diseases, nervous system and sense organ diseases, and musculoskeletal diseases, the authors provide new knowledge and insights to help proactively prevent and control these diseases. The research underpinning the development of the book applies empirical analyses of real-world occupational disease data for the construction industry alongside a detailed review and meta-analysis of literature pertinent to risk factors and methods and strategies to prevent and/or control occupational diseases in construction. Knowing the riskiest diseases and occupations for construction workers, along with organisational and personal risk factors, is critical to optimising risk management efforts. This book should be of interest to students, researchers, and practitioners in construction management, occupational health and safety, and risk management.




Communities in Action


Book Description

In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.




Stress Management in the Construction Industry


Book Description

This systematic review of stress management in construction will help an understanding of the issues and theory as well as offering practical recommendations. addresses the growing concern to make work in construction healthier, safer, and more productive integrates research results, survey statistics and scenario analyses to reveal underlying causes of stress offers recommendations for reducing Stress




Working for a healthier tomorrow


Book Description

Around 175 million working days were lost to illness in 2006. Some 7 per cent of the working population is workless and receiving benefits because of long-term health conditions or disabilities. This represents a significant cost to the economy - in cost of benefits, healthcare, forgone taxes, lost production, sickness absence, informal care - estimated at between £103 and £129 billion. The review's vision for health and work in Britain is based on three principal objectives: prevention of illness and promotion of health and well-being; early intervention for those who develop a health condition; an improvement in the health of those out of work. The review establishes the first baseline for the health of the working population. It then examines the role of the workplace in health and well-being. Work is good for both physical and mental health (Waddell & Burton, 2006, "Is work good for your health and well-being?" TSO, ISBN 9780117036949). Employers, trade unions, employees, safety and health practitioners should all promote the benefits of investment in health and well-being. The review calls of a fundamental shift in the perception of fitness for work, to move away from it being inappropriate to be at work if not 100 per cent fit. Early intervention can prevent short-tem sickness becoming more serious, and pilot trials of a new Fit for Work service are proposed. More health support for workless people on incapacity benefits is recommended. Professional expertise for working age health is needed, and occupational health should be in the mainstream of healthcare provision. To safeguard the future health of the working population, young people should understand the benefits of a life in work. The review closes with proposals for taking the agenda forward.




BIM and Construction Health and Safety


Book Description

This book aims to conceptualise the implementation of building information modelling (BIM) in the workplace health and safety (WHS) management of construction projects to reduce occupational accidents. The safety performance of the construction industry has always been a concern across the globe, and this devastating reputation has drawn the concern of many nations. The potential functions of BIM can drastically alter the WHS practices of the construction industry. BIM facilitates WHS information exchange and management and supports better collaboration and project planning through virtual visualisation of the construction WHS management process. Despite an increasing interest in BIM, a successful mechanism for employing BIM in construction WHS management is absent. Therefore, this book aims to fill this dearth by presenting a model for the integration of such innovative interventions with the current industry practices in a practical manner through the proper identification of effective areas and evaluation of their impacts on the key criteria of construction projects and organisations. This approach will foster the implementation of BIM in the current state of WHS management in the industry and can potentially reduce occupational accidents on construction sites. This book is essential reading for researchers and professionals interested in how BIM technology can improve health and safety on construction projects. It is intended for engineers, project managers, construction managers, safety officers and safety managers.




Construction Safety, Health and Well-being in the COVID-19 era


Book Description

This edited book presents a significant and timely contribution to our understanding of a broad range of issues pertaining to COVID-19 and its relationship to occupational safety, health and well-being (OSHW) in the global construction industry. The editors first introduce the industry and its poor OSHW history before highlighting some of the broader impacts of the pandemic on the sector. The book is then divided into two sections. Section One focuses on the management of COVID-19 transmission risk. It captures insights, practices, technologies and lessons learned in relation to what has and is being done to prevent or mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission among the construction workforce. Construction Safety, Health and Well-being in the COVID-19 Era also details case studies, lessons and best practices for managing sites and workforces when infections inevitably do occur. Section Two brings together international chapters discussing the impacts of COVID-19 on the OSHW of the construction workforce both on and off-site, as well as the management of those impacts. Furthermore, this presents implications of the pandemic (at the short-, medium-, and long-term) for other performance measures of construction projects such as cost, schedule, quality and, most importantly, how the pursuit/non-pursuit of such performance measures have impacted/will impact the OSHW of construction workers and professionals in the industry. This book addresses the gap in literature by offering global perspectives on the OSHW impacts and implications of COVID-19 in the construction industry and will help its wide readership (including construction industry organisations, professionals, researchers, government bodies/policy makers and students) to understand a broad suite of issues pertaining to COVID-19 and its relationship to OSHW in construction.