Investigating the impact of medication consumption on crane-related occupational health and safety risks in construction projects

Herrera-Pérez, V., Rubio-Romero, J. C., Fuertes, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6224-1489, Salguero-Caparrós, F. and Pardo-Ferreira, M. d. C. (2026) Investigating the impact of medication consumption on crane-related occupational health and safety risks in construction projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 152 (8). 04026116-1-04026116-14. ISSN 0733-9364 doi: 10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-17512

Abstract/Summary

The construction sector remains an industry with one of the highest rates of workplace accidents, thus understanding their causation factors has been an area of attention among many researchers worldwide. Previous studies have identified many contributing factors, but research on the impact of medication on construction occupational health and safety is very scarce. This study investigated, for the first time, the influence that specific types of medication have on the occupational risks associated with the operation of tower cranes in construction projects. A Delphi study was conducted with a panel of medical experts working at services for prevention and protection at work organizations in Spain. A questionnaire was designed to gather the expert panelists’ judgment, and the median absolute deviation was used to calculate consensus among the panelists’ individual quantitative answers. The Delphi study confirmed that medicines for sleep disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, and antiepileptics could contribute significantly to the risks. People falling from heights was the tower crane operation risk most likely to increase in the event that the crane operator was under the effects of any medication. Focusing on an underresearched occupational health and safety field, this study contributes with additional knowledge on how medication consumption influences the occurrence of work-related injuries on construction sites. Findings will guide researchers and industry practitioners worldwide undertaking risk assessments and accident investigations related to crane operations. Useful recommendations are provided to identify, assess, and manage the impact of medication consumption on the health and safety at construction sites. Results will influence occupational health and safety policy makers on the dissemination and regulation of the negative effects that the consumption of medication could have on the occupational health and safety of those involved in crane-related activities.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/130050
Identification Number/DOI	10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-17512
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of the Built Environment > Construction Management and Engineering Science > School of the Built Environment > Organisation, People and Technology group
Publisher	American Society of Civil Engineers
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