Occupational Disease in Construction - Part 1
by Dru Sahai, M.Sc. (A), ROH, Project Coordinator, CSAO
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More deaths from
mesothelioma than falls |
The number one cause of accidental, or traumatic, death in Ontario construction is falls. But the number one killer overall is mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the chest cavity and is nearly always caused by asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma is one of several occupational diseases that, on average, cause more construction deaths each year than do traumatic injuries. (An occupational disease or illness is any health problem caused by exposure to a workplace hazard.)
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More deaths from
disease than injury |
In a given year the deaths from mesothelioma result from exposures over the previous 10, 20, or 30 years.
More than 240,000 construction workers may be potentially exposed to hazardous agents that can lead to occupational illness later in life.
Although work-related diseases develop over years and are not as visible or dramatic as traumatic injuries, they are nonetheless just as deadly.
Over the last decade, claims for fatalities from occupational disease outnumber those from injuries in practically every year.
Of the 217 fatal claims allowed by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board for the years 1991-2000, 117 (53%) were due to mesothelioma.
The top three killer diseases are mesothelioma (117), lung cancer (54), and asbestosis (11).
These account for 84% of all the occupational disease fatalities for 1991-2000. Asbestos is the agent responsible for the vast majority of deaths from occupational disease.
CSAO works with the WSIB, Ministry of Labour, and other health and safety
associations to identify trends in occupational disease, raise awareness,
and recommend controls.
Through its network of labour-management health and safety committees, Ontario construction provides input on regulations, standards, and work practices designed to reduce or eliminate exposure.
Because occupational diseases usually develop slowly over a long period and there is no immediate warning that a chemical will cause illness 20 or 30 years down the road, employers and workers must be alert and vigilant in controlling hazards.
An article in the spring issue of Construction Safety magazine will explain practical measures that can be taken to prevent occupational disease in construction.
