Assessing Barriers to the Use of Fall Protection in Small Residential Construction Companies *

BACKGROUND: Despite OSHA regulations, fall protection equipment, and recommendations on best practices, falls in the construction industry remain the leading cause of death in the U.S.. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA 2013), in 2011, there were 738 (17.6%) fatalities in the construction industry with falls being the leading cause of death. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 541 workers died in the U.S. in 2011 from falls at higher levels, 10 feet or higher. New Jersey, reported 21 (21%) of the fatal injuries in 2011 were in the construction industry, six due to falls, slips, trips (BLS 2012b).  Approximately half of the residential construction companies in the U.S. have ten or fewer employees; these smaller companies are more likely to have a fatal fall compared to commercial construction companies (Sa et.al, 2009).  The objective of this study was to characterize barriers to the use of fall protection among smaller residential construction contractors in New Jersey.

METHODS: Three focus groups were conducted with two New Jersey labor organizations: The Laborers’ International Union of North America, NJ Local 55; and New Labor, a nonprofit organization that promotes the health and safety of Hispanic workers. During each focus group participants completed a short questionnaire and participated in a group exercise to collect information on usage of fall protection equipment.

RESULTS:  Thirty-six residential construction workers participated in this study; 35 (97%) were male; the average age was 39 years; and 24 (67%) were of Hispanic origin. Twelve (33%) of the participants reported having fallen from greater than six feet at work and 20 (56%) knew of someone who had fallen from greater than six feet. Sixteen (44%) were not  provided fall protection equipment by their employer and 18 (50%) reported their current employer had not provided safety training. Analysis of the discussion portion of the focus groups identified factors that either promoted or created barriers to the use of fall protection equipment, such as availability of equipment; employee / employer relationships; language barriers; and size of construction company.

CONCLUSIONS:  Results from this study indicate that there are potential barriers to use of fall protection equipment among residential construction workers and that there is a need for better regulation among smaller construction companies. Residential construction companies should also implement fall protection plans and employees should receive appropriate training and personal protective equipment when working at any height greater than six feet.