In 2015, nearly 1000 construction workers across seven Midwestern states suffered fatal opioid-related overdoses, according to estimates compiled by the St. Paul, MN-based Midwest Economic Policy Institute (MEPI) in a 2018 report, titled “Addressing the Opioid Epidemic Among Midwest Construction Workers.” (See https://midwestepi.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/opioids-and-construction-final2.pdf.)
According to the report, construction workers in Ohio in 2016 were 7.24 times more likely to die of opioid overdoses than other workers in the state. The cost of the crisis to the Midwest construction industry was estimated at $5.2 billion in 2015.
The report recommends: 1) Provide health insurance that covers substance abuse and mental health treatment. 2) Adopt new policies in health plans that limit dosages of opioid medications. 3) Encourage physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications for chronic wear-and-tear injuries. 4) Educate employees about responsible prescription opioid use. 5) Provide at least two weeks of paid sick leave. 6) Update employee policies to include regular drug testing, but do not immediately fire employees who test positive. 7) Temporarily put employees on prescription opioids in low-risk positions. 8) Fund substance abuse treatment programs and workforce development initiatives.
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Join presenter Samir Ibrahim, F-IIBEC, AIA, CSI, and moderator Brandon Gemma on Wednesday, October 16 at 2:00 p.m. ET for a live webinar, Leak Investigation: Methods, Assessment, and Strategies. This activity has been approved for 1.0 IIBEC CEH. This activity has been approved for 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.
This educational program focuses on the evolution of methods and practices used to detect moisture intrusion, primarily in roofing and waterproofing. Different methods of testing will be discussed, and appropriate selection criteria, depending on each project’s conditions, will be explored. The need for stricter quality control will be discussed and suitable testing methods identified. Participants will be able to generate a forward-thinking strategy when performing field assessments of designing a new project. This webinar will focus on a review of the methods available and is not specific to any one leak detection system.
Register Now.