Proportionate Mortality Among Construction Laborers

This report presents the results of proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) analyses and proportionate cancer mortality ratio (PCMR) analyses among the 11,685 members of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), who died between 1985-1988, using U.S. proportionate mortality rates as the comparison population. Statistically significant elevated mortality risks were observed for all malignant neoplasms (N = 3285, PMR = 1.13, CI = 1.09-1.17), as well as for site-specific neoplasms of the lung (N = 1208, PCMR = 1.06, CI = 1.00-1.12), stomach (N = 170, PCMR = 1.44, CI = 1.23-1.68), and thyroid gland (N = 10, PCMR = 2.24, CI = 1.07-4.12). The PCMRs for these malignant neoplasms were elevated among both white and non-white males, regardless of length of union membership, in most 10-year categories of age at death above 40 and for the three largest LIUNA regions examined. The study also observed 20 mesothelioma deaths, which indicated that some LIUNA members had been previously exposed to asbestos. Statistically significant elevated risks were also observed for deaths from transportation injuries (N = 448, PMR = 1.37, CI = 1.25-1.51), falls (N = 85, PMR = 1.34, CI = 1.07-1.66), and other types of injuries (N = 245, PMR = 1.61, CI = 1.42-1.83). The deaths due to injuries were most often observed among those members who had the shortest amount of time within the union, were younger, and first entered the union after 1955. This is the first study that has examined the general mortality experience limited to construction laborers only (Bureau of Census code 869).