Posted: June 15th, 2022

Special Topics in Construction Safety 1

OSH 4310, Special Topics in Construction Safety 1
Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VIII
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1. Evaluate emerging issues related to construction sites.
1.1 Discuss how an aging workforce changes the worksite dynamic as it relates to safety.
1.2 Explain the differences found on the worksite between younger and older employees, taking
into consideration issues such as culture, ambulation, alert systems, and signage.
1.3 Provide safety promotion strategies for the older workforce that protects the dignity of the older
employee.
1.4 Explain how safety precautions for the aging workforce is a part of the total safety management
(TSM) of a worksite.
3. Examine technology useful for improving safety outcomes.
3.1 Express how new technology can improve the elderly employee’s ability to continue to function
safely on the worksite.
3.2 Recommend new safety technology for the aging employee for their continued presence on the
worksite.
Course/Unit
Learning Outcomes
Learning Activity
1.1
Unit Lesson
Webpage: Understanding High-Frequency Hearing Loss
Webpage: Using the Heat Index: A Guide for Employers
Unit VIII PowerPoint Presentation
1.2 Unit Lesson
Unit VIII PowerPoint Presentation
1.3
Chapter 21
Article: “Construction Workers More Likely to Die on the Job”
Unit VIII PowerPoint Presentation
1.4
Chapter 16
Article: “Retirement Insecurity and the Rise of the Grey Labor Force: America’s
Social Safety Net, Not Designed For Human Longevity, Means Many
Workers Are Forced to Stay in the Labor Market Into Old Age”
Webpage: Boost Your Safety Program With Stretch and Flex
Unit VIII PowerPoint Presentation
3.1
Unit Lesson
Chapter 18
Unit VIII PowerPoint Presentation
3.2
Unit Lesson
Chapter 18
Unit VIII PowerPoint Presentation
Required Unit Resources
Chapter 16: Total Safety Management
Chapter 18: Bloodborne Pathogens in the Workplace
Chapter 21: Promoting Safety
UNIT VIII STUDY GUIDE
The Aging Workforce
OSH 4310, Special Topics in Construction Safety 2
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
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In order to access the following resources, click the links below.
Gruenberg, M. (2011, November 4). Construction workers more likely to die on the job. People’s World.

Construction workers more likely to die on the job

Newman, K. S. (2019, September). Retirement insecurity and the rise of the grey labor force: America’s social
safety net, not designed for human longevity, means many workers are forced to stay in the labor
market into old age. Generations, 43(3), 35–41.
https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direc
t=true&db=asn&AN=139338233&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Using the heat index: A guide for employers.
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/index.html
Patterson, T. (2017, August 30). Boost your safety program with stretch and flex. Southeast Directional
Drilling. https://www.southeastdrilling.com/boost-your-safety-program-with-stretch-and-flex/#
Victory, J. (2019, October 22). Understanding high-frequency hearing loss. Healthy Hearing.
https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52448-Understanding-high-frequency-hearing-loss
Unit Lesson
As seen in almost all industries, and construction is no exception, the workforce is aging. It seems that most
young people have their ideas and dreams set on getting a college degree and earning $100,000 right out of
the graduation gate, yet the trades in construction can provide a great income with terrific benefits, whether
the construction worker is in a union or not. Many different trade specialists can make excellent incomes,
certainly six-figure incomes, should a young person want to take up that mantle. However, here is the rub: it is
hard work. A person works in all environments throughout the year in all weather conditions. In North Dakota,
the construction industry is building housing for thousands of workers in the Bakken Oil Field, and
temperatures in the winter can be 50 degrees below zero with wind chills dropping the temperature even
further. In Southern California, there is the opposite extreme. There, construction workers are building solar
farms, and the sun shines all day, and the temperatures in the summer can reach higher than 120 degrees
Fahrenheit. Construction workers can work in these extremes of heat and cold for 10 to 12 hours a day. Of
course, workers must constantly contend with bugs and all sorts of other critters. Does an up and coming
young person want that when the alternative is working in a controlled environment wearing business casual
attire and working a 40-hour work week?
Not Everyone Gets a College Degree
Now, some younger people really may not have a choice in the matter. Location or financial constraints place
the new employee into a place where obtaining a 4-year college degree just is not feasible. Some other
choices for this person are either the military, getting a job at a local establishment, or perhaps following in
their family member’s path of learning a trade. This leaves the recent high school graduate very few options,
but all of them require hard work and determination. One can learn a trade through technical schools, again a
2-year process of schooling, or they can obtain an apprenticeship through their local union or non-union trade
hall. The real question here is who is going to train the new person starting out on their tools.
The Journeyman
The journeyman trade person is the teacher and mentor for the new person on the job. The journeyman
generally has been around for some time. Here is the special topic for construction to which this discussion
is referring. The employee who has been on their tools for a couple of decades now is in his or her late 40s
or early 50s and has been doing this type of work for some time. They have put in the time and effort to
become experts in their field. These journeymen are the master electricians or plumbers, the carpenters
and pipefitters, or maybe the heavy equipment operators and truck drivers. They are the ones who get the
job done.
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While these employees are the experts in their fields, they have issues related to working as long as they
have in their trades. Perhaps they have developed work-related muscular skeletal disorders from the constant
and repetitive actions of their chosen field. This is called the study of ergonomics. Journeymen might have
sustained some other form of work-related injury that happens all too often for people in the construction
trade. Construction workers have a 75% chance of sustaining an injury at work requiring medical intervention
at some point in their career (Gruenberg, 2011).
Presbyopia
The other issue is that as the workforce ages, there are medical concerns that arise. As the worker gets into
their late 40s and early 50s, several things can happen to the human body. Vision is one of those things that
changes with time. It would seem that as people age, it is common for their ability to see objects up close to
weaken. This is called presbyopia (Mayo Clinic, 2017). These employees need prescription glasses or
readers so that they can see what they need to read on the drawings or plans for a jobsite. The bifocals can
create distortion of vision on the job. Missed steps and tripping becomes a real issue with falls resulting in
injuries to the employee. Depth perception presents a leading issue for trips and falls. Extension cords on the
ground or other debris can become trip hazards for that aging employee because their depth perception is off.
With falls being the number one reason for fatality on a construction site, vision deficiencies can be a
significant factor.
Most jobsites now require personal protective equipment (PPE) as a standard safety control, and safety
glasses are part of that PPE standard. Does the jobsite provide the proper safety glasses for their
employees? Some companies will provide prescription safety eyewear, but most do not. It is up to the
employee to obtain the proper prescription safety eyewear. Some employees can get by with the standard Z
87 safety glasses with readers installed, but again, the bifocal issue can be problematic. The vision issue is
one of great importance on the jobsite. At almost all toolbox talks or tailboard talks, the first thing mentioned
by the instructor or leader is watch out for whatever. A toolbox or tailboard talk is something that happens
before the crew begins work at the start of every shift about what is being done that day and what safety
issues might be found within the tasks of the day (Rowell, n.d.). How can someone watch out for something if
they cannot see it? Consideration must be made for those employees because almost all of them will
eventually have an issue with decreasing vision because of aging eyes.
Getting Around
Mobility issues are also a factor for the aging workforce. Range-of-motion and speed-of-travel can be limiting
factors for that older employee. Carrying loads can also be a factor. It is not uncommon for younger workers
to lift and carry things older employees would only shake their head at and wonder why someone would do
that. Joint pain from aging and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) can be an issue. Arthritis
becomes an issue with WMSDs (Mayo Clinic, 2019). Look at some of the older employees with true arthritis
issues in their hands and other extremities. Some have very stiff and painful joints that cause them to have
difficulty walking and using their hands. That must hurt. When it rains or gets cold, the elderly employee
might begin to have range-of-motion issues because of the joint pain. At the next all-hands meeting that you
attend, ask the employees to stand and do a stretch and flex (Mar, 2016). Then look at the younger
employees versus the older employees and see who is moving with greater range-of-motion and fewer moans
and groans.
Stretch and flex programs are a key factor is maintaining good range-of-motion for workers on the jobsite. As
with any professional or amateur athlete, getting a good stretch and flex into their workout routine prior to
beginning the routine helps prevent soft tissue injuries like strains and sprains. The same goes for the
construction worker on the jobsite. In order to protect the worker from soft tissue injuries, it is imperative the
employee gets a good stretching and muscle warm up before setting out for the day’s activities.
Auditory Issues
The next aging issue is hearing. Look around when you are on the job. How many of your employees are
wearing hearing aids? If they are in their 50s or older, a fair number of them have hearing aids or probably
need them. You hear comments on the jobsite like, “Can you enunciate better, please,” or “Would you repeat
that again?” Most age-related hearing loss occurs at the higher frequencies; therefore, background noise is
something to contend with because background noise becomes more prominent when the higher frequencies
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are gone (Victory, 2019). The speaking voice usually resonates at 125 to 200 Hz frequency, and this is where
a lot of hearing deficiency occurs (National Center for Voice and Speech, n.d.). Employees with common
hearing loss may not get the full instructions they need, and many times they are too proud or embarrassed to
ask someone to repeat it because they will get ridiculed in meetings. “Put your hearing aids in” is an oft repeated comment that is made by people in a not very subtle way.
With all the background noise on a jobsite, sometimes the safety equipment will not be heard. The backup
alarms on almost all construction equipment is a beeping sound. However, there is a newer type of back-up
alarm that has been put in service that sounds like leaking high pressure air in an intermittent pattern. Some
back-up alarms decrease their volume after a short period of time. We must consider how that is affecting the
older employee with hearing loss issues.
Accommodations
The aging workforce continues to be one of the major driving factors
for the trades on a construction site. Certain accommodations will
need to be met in order for those individuals to continue their daily
tasks and yet maintain some form of dignity and respect. As with any
other group on the jobsite, the aging workforce must have line items
built into the safety plan and safety management system in order to
help this ever-growing group of employees. An example of this might
be to have yellow and black highlighted hash marks on all potential trip
hazards like steps or changes in elevation. This should help the aging
employee with vision issues from wearing bifocals that can cause
depth-perception distortions. The safety plan should address these
types of things. As the workforce continues to age and as more and
more people are living longer, it becomes a serious concern for both
management and the safety team to make sure all of the special
needs for our most experienced and valued team members are met.
Medical Issues
Medical issues become part of the aging workforce. Diabetes, both insulin and non-insulin dependent, is one
of the big items when dealing with older workers. What medications are being taken, and how do harsh
environments on a jobsite lessen the positive effects of that medication? Does the employee need to take
more frequent breaks to maintain a steady blood sugar level? As part of an employee wellness program,
perhaps the safety department is aware of some of these medical issues. More than likely though, not. With
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the issue of knowing a person’s medical
problems is becoming even more of a hurdle. The employees with diabetes and other conditions that might
affect their work day should be encouraged to wear a bracelet stating their medical condition (MedicAlert
Foundation, n.d.). Is there a way for someone on site to spot check an employee’s blood sugar level should
the employee start to seem out of sorts from low blood sugar? Does the management of the jobsite have a
way to facilitate the necessary monitoring and correction, if necessary, should they find an employee with
extremely low blood sugar signs and symptoms? Are the employees and leaders trained in how to spot
someone who is experiencing low blood sugar? A recommendation would be that anyone with at a
supervisory level of foreman or above be trained in first aid/CPR/AED usage. For those people who take
insulin, insulin shock can be life threatening (too much insulin causing blood sugar levels in the low 20s);
therefore, it is vital that someone at the worksite be able to help them should things go wrong.
Another issue for the aging workforce is the side effects of medications that could cause issues on the jobsite.
Some medications can cause the employee to bleed more easily or have more fragile skin. With this issue
comes the bloodborne pathogen problem. When someone is bleeding from a wound and that blood spills on
the work area, it becomes a biohazard. Employees have to be trained how to secure and clean that area. The
bloodborne pathogen awareness program needs to address this issue.
Hypertension or high blood pressure is also an issue for older workers. As the employee ages, blood pressure
can become seriously elevated and create symptoms that must be recognized by not only the employee but
also those working around them. With companies that work in the high heat index areas of our country, this
issue is even more significant (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, n.d.). It would be wise to have
(Tatabrade, n.d.)
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management or an appropriate construction site staff member know if the employee takes medication for
blood pressure symptoms and what the side effects are that might manifest in the employee.
Chest pain is a dangerous issue to be aware of in employees, especially workers who are older than 30. The
risk factors for heart attack or myocardial infarction increase in employees who are male; over 40; have a
family history of heart problems; lead a sedentary lifestyle; have hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or
diabetes; use tobacco; or are obese, among other factors (Mayo Clinic, 2014). Questions you should consider
areas follows. Does your workforce have any of the issues in common with these risk factors? If someone has
a heart attack and returns to work, are they on blood thinners? What can be done for the employee who is
having chest pain? Does the company or jobsite have a plan in place for a medical emergency? Not all
jobsites are right around the corner from a heart hospital. What is your emergency response plan call for in
this circumstance? You need to know the answers to these questions.
Aging Family Members
One last issue for the aging workforce is the employee’s aging family. Most people are living into their 80s
now and with the workforce being on the jobsite into their 60s or 70s, dealing with an aging family member
can affect the employee quite significantly. Absence from the worksite to deal with issues at home either
locally or in a distant location can have a deleterious effect on the worker’s focus and concentration on the
jobsite. When forming a plan for safety on the jobsite, it becomes quite important to plan for key members of
the management, safety, or workforce team to have extended stays away from the worksite because of the
aging family member’s medical issues.
In conclusion, the workforce is aging and not necessarily being replaced by the younger generation, which
may necessitate the aging employee to stay longer on the job. With the financial status of some employees,
retirement is only a fantasy (Dieker, 2017). There are employees on construction sites that are in their mid 70s and still active and working. There are accommodations that need to be made for these older employees
so that they can maintain their work status and continue to be safe on the jobsite (Bass, 2019). What is the
jobsite doing for their most valuable and experienced employees? Look again at the workforce on your
jobsite. What are you doing for them? What can be done for them to make the jobsite safer as a whole?
References
Bass, B. (2019, March 8). Accommodating an aging workforce. Sedgwick.
https://www.sedgwick.com/blog/2019/03/08/accommodating-an-aging-workforce
Dieker, N. (2017, October 2). The majority of Americans can’t afford to retire. The Billfold.
https://www.thebillfold.com/2017/10/the-majority-of-americans-cant-afford-to-retire/
Gruenberg, M. (2011, November 4). Construction workers more likely to die on the job. People’s World.

Construction workers more likely to die on the job

National Center for Voice and Speech. (n.d.). Factors influencing fundamental frequency.
ncvs.org/ncvs/tutorials/voiceprod/tutorial/influence.html
Mar, A. (2016, June 20). Implementing a workplace “stretch-and-flex” program in your company. Graham
Company. https://www.grahamco.com/KnowledgeCenter/blog/implementing-a-workplace-stretch-and flex-program/
Mayo Clinic. (2014, November 15). Heart attack risk factors.
www.staff.science.uu.nl/~ooste108/ExpC/website3/v1/heartattackRiskFactors.html
Mayo Clinic. (2017, December 6). Presbyopia. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases conditions/presbyopia/symptoms-causes/syc-20363328
Mayo Clinic. (2019, July 19). Arthritis. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/symptoms causes/syc-20350772
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MedicAlert Foundation. (n.d.). The original medical ID. https://www.medicalert.org/
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Using the heat index: A guide for employers.
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/index.html
Rowell, C. (n.d.). Toolbox talks. Harvard Environmental Health & Safety.
https://www.ehs.harvard.edu/programs/toolbox-talks
Tatabrada. (n.d.). Yellow black tape [Photograph]. Dreamstime. https://www.dreamstime.com/yellow-black safety-tape-step-warning-yellow-black-tape-image124871685
Victory, J. (2019, October 22). Understanding high-frequency hearing loss. Healthy Hearing.
https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52448-Understanding-high-frequency-hearing-loss

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