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Document ID (ISN)101396
CIS number 03-419
ISSN - Serial title 1076-2752 - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Year 2002
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Suruda A., Whitaker B., Bloswick D., Philips P., Sesek R.
Title Impact of the OSHA Trench and Excavation Standard on fatal injury in the construction industry
Bibliographic information Oct. 2002, Vol.44, No.10, p.902-905. Illus. 18 ref.
Abstract In 1989, the US Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) revised the Trench and Excavation Standard. Fatal injuries from trench cave-ins in the construction industry were examined for five year periods before and after the revision in the 47 US states for which data were available for both periods. There was a two-fold decline in the rate of fatal injury after revision of the standard, which substantially exceeded the decline in other causes of fatal injury in the construction industry during the same period. The decline was somewhat greater in large business firms but was evident in construction firms of all size classes. The fatality rate from trench cave-in in union construction workers was approximately half that of non-union workers, but it was not possible to determine whether this was best explained by union status, employment of union workers at larger construction firms, or both. This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of OSHA regulation in preventing fatal work injury.
Descriptors (primary) occupational accidents; trenching and excavating; comment on standard; fatalities; construction industry
Descriptors (secondary) public OSH institutions; USA; safety rules; enforcement; frequency rates; role of workers' organizations
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceUSA
Subject(s) Construction industry
Broad subject area(s) Mechanical hazards, transport
Industries and occupations
Browse category(ies) Trenching and excavating
Construction industry and civil engineering