Hanyang Med Rev.  2010 Nov;30(4):290-295.

Occupational Diseases of Construction Industry

• Kwon YJ

Abstract

Construction is consistently ranked among the most dangerous occupations. In the Korea, 28% of all fatal on-the-job injuries occur in construction. Occupational diseases are also an important cause of morbidity in construction workers. This article reviews the medical literatures on common occupational diseases in construction industry: work-related musculoskeletal disorders, noise-induced hearing loss, lead poisoning, occupational lung diseases. Construction is a complex industry, involving many trades and employers on any single project. Because of that complexity, research and prevention activities have targeted construction less frequently than general industry, even though the need is great. These circumstances leave the industry with much room for improvement. The next decade should bring great improvement in health and safety in this industry.

Keyword

Construction industry; Occupational disease; Hazardous materials

MeSH Terms

Construction Industry
Hazardous Substances
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced
Korea
Lead Poisoning
Lung Diseases
Occupational Diseases
Occupations
Hazardous Substances

Reference

1. Welch LS. Rosenstock L, Cullen MR, Brodkin CA, Redlich CA, editors. Construction industry hazards. Textbook of clinical occupational and environmental medicine. 2005. 2nd edn. Elsevier Saunders;215–226.

2. Available from: http://cak.or.kr/program/statute/downadd.asp?tb=DD_SRSCHDETAIL&num=1026.

3. Construction chart book. 2nd ed. Silver Spring, MD: Center to Protect Workers Rights.

4. Tuomi K, Ilmarinet J, Klockars M, Nygard CH, Seitsamo J, Huuhfanen P, Martikainen R, Aalto L. Finnish research project on aging workers in 1981-1992. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1997. 23:Suppl 1. 7–11.

5. Available from http://kosis.kr/gen_etl/start.jsp?orgId=101&tblId=DT_1DA7A26&conn_path=I2&path=.

6. Ministry of Labor. Annual report on industrial accident. 2008. 2009. Ministry of Labor Korea Government.

7. Ministry of Labor. Annual report on result of health examination. 2008. 2009. Ministry of Labor Korea Government.

8. Panel on Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace. Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace: Low Back and Upper Extremities. 2001. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

9. Engholm G, Holmstrom E. Does-Response Associations between Musculoskeletal Disorders and Physical and Psychosocial Factors among Construction Workers. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2005. 31:57–67.

10. Stenlund B, Goldie I, Hagberg M, Hogstedt C. Shoulder tendinitis and the relation to heavy manual work and exposure to vibration. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1993. 19:43–49.

11. Welch LS, Hunting KL, Kellogg J. Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms among sheet metal workers. Am J Ind Med. 1995. 27:783–791.

12. Gemne G, Saraste H. Bone and Joint pathology in workers using hand-held vibrating tools. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1987. 13:290–300.

13. Stock S. Workplace ergonomic factors and the development of musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and upper limbs: a meta-analysis. Am J Ind Med. 1991. 19:87–107.

14. Rosecrance JC, Cook TM, Anton DC, Merlino LA. Carpal tunnel syndrome among apprentice construction workers. Am J Ind Med. 2002. 42:107–116.

15. Heliovaara M. Occupation and risk of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc or sciatica leading to hospitalization. J Chron Dis. 1987. 40:259–264.

16. Luoma K, Riihimaki H, Raininko R, Luukkonen R, Lamminen A, Viikari-Juntura E. Lumbar disc degeneration in relation to occupation. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1998. 24:358–366.

17. Kelsey JL. An epidemiological study of the relationship between occupations and acute herniated lumbar intervertebral discs. Int J Epidemiol. 1975. 4:197–205.

18. Burdorf A, Govaert G, Elders L. Postural load and back pain of workers in the manufacturing of prefabricated concrete elements. Ergonomics. 1991. 34:909–918.

19. Latza U, Karmaus W, Sturmer T, Steiner M, Neth A, Rehder U. Cohort study of occupational risk factors of low back pain in construction workers. Occup environ Med. 2000. 57:28–34.

20. Arndt V, Rothenbacher D, Brenner H, Fraisse E, Zschenderlein B, Daniel U, Schuberth S, Fliedner TM. Older workers in the construction industry: results of a routine health examination and a five-year follow-up. Occup Environ Med. 1996. 53:686–691.

21. Lindberg H, Montgomery F. Heavy labor and the occurrence of gonarthrosis. Clin Orthop. 1987. 214:235–236.

22. Jensen LK, Mikkelsen S, Loft IP, Eenberg W. Work-related Knee disorders in floor layers and carpenters. J Occup Environ Med. 2000. 42:835–842.

23. Lipscomb HJ, Dement JM, Loomis DP, Silverstein B, Kalat J. Surveillance of work-related musculoskeletal injuries among union carpenters. Am J Ind Med. 1997. 32:629–640.

24. Hunting KL, Welch LS, Cuccherini BA, Seiger LS. Musculoskeletal symptoms among electricians. Am J Ind Med. 1994. 25:149–163.

25. Holmstrom E, Lindell J, Moritz U. Low back and neck/shoulder pain in construction workers; physical and psychosocial risk factors. Part 2: Relationship to neck/shoulder pain. Spine. 1992. 17:672–677.

26. Holmstrom E, Moritz U, Engholm G. Ringgen K, Englund A, Welch LS, Weeks JL, Seegal J, editors. Musculoskeletal disorders in construction workers. Health and Safety in construction: state of the art reviews in occupational medicine. 1995. vol 10. Philadelphia: Hanley and Belfus;29–311.

27. CPWR. The Construction Chart Book. 2008. 4th edn. Silver Spring, MD: CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training.

28. Suter AH. Construction noise; exposure, effects, and the potential for remediation; a review and analysis. AIHA J (Fairfax, Va). 2002. 63:768–789.

29. Kerr MJ, Brosseau L, Johnson CS. Noise levels of selected construction tasks. AIHA J (Fairfax, Va). 2002. 63:334–339.

30. Levin SM, Goldberg M. Clinical evaluation and management of lead-exposed construction workers. Am J Ind Med. 2000. 37:23–43.

31. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH Alert: Request for assistance in preventing lead poisoning in construction workers. NIOSH Publication 91-116a. 1992. Cincinati, OH: NIOSH.

32. CPWR. Respiratory Disease Mortality by NORA sectors in the U.S., 1990-1999. 2006. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Occupational Respiratory Mortality System (NORMS).

33. Halbert RJ, Isonaka S, George D, Iqbal A. Interpreting COPD Prevalence Estimates: What Is the True Burden of Disease? Chest. 2003. 123:1684–1692.