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Industry Corner

Construction
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released a new guide on how to prevent musculoskeletal injuries. The useful guide includes 20 tip sheets relating to floor and groundwork, overhead work, lifting, holding and handling materials as well as hand intensive work.
Click here for “Simple Solutions: Ergonomics for Construction Workers.”


Landscaping
“Can You Dig It: A Safety and Health Guide for Young Workers in Landscaping, Greenhouses and Nurseries” was created for young workers in the landscaping, greenhouse, and nursery industries by The Federal Network for Young Worker Safety and Health. It provides information on how young workers can work safely, protect themselves from pesticides, heat stress, electrocution, slips and trips as well as outlines young workers’ rights.

Long-term care
A study by The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) projects that total losses per worker in this industry will grow “significantly faster than average” over the next several years. This industry already has greater than average losses per worker, with average frequency at nursing home facilities and retirement living centers more than double the average for private industry. According to a recent BLS report, nursing aides, orderlies and attendants had days away from work four times the total for all occupations.

Severity at nursing homes and retirement living centers is below average due to lower wages, but is above average for home healthcare services. This is likely to remain higher due to a high share of more severe motor vehicle accidents.

Back strains due to lifting are a greater share of claims in long-term care than for all other industries. Assault by patients is also an increasing exposure.

With the aging of the Baby Boomers, employment in this industry is expected to grow significantly faster than average over the next several years. Home healthcare services is forecast to be the fastest growing industry nationwide through 2014.

To better understand the characteristics of injuries in this industry, click here.