"Background:Many factors contribute to occupational injuries. However, these factors have been compartmentalized and isolated in most studies.Objective:To examine the relationship between work-related injuries and multiple occupational and non-occupational factors among construction workers in the USA.Methods:Data from the 1988–2000 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 cohort (N?=?12,686) were analyzed. Job exposures and health behaviors were examined and used as independent variables in four multivariate logistic regression models to identify associations with occupational injuries.Results:After controlling for demographic variables, occupational injuries were 18% (95% CI: 1.04–1.34) more likely in construction than in non-construction. Blue-collar occupations, job physical efforts, multiple jobs, and long working hours accounted for the escalated risk in construction. Smoking, obesity/overweight, and cocaine use significantly increased the risk of work-related injury when demographics and occupational factors were held constant.Conclusions:Workplace injuries are better explained by simultaneously examining occupational and non-occupational characteristics."

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