Back Injury in Municipal Workers: A Case-Control Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Baker SP ; Johnson JV ; Li G ; Liang KY ; Myers AH ; Smith GS ; Wiker S
• Description:
  OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with acute low back injury among municipal employees of a large city. METHODS: For each of 200 injured case patients, 2 coworker controls were randomly selected, the first matched on gender, job, and department and the second matched on gender and job classification. In-person interviews were conducted to collect data on demographics, work history, work characteristics, work injuries, back pain, psychosocial and work organization, health behaviors, and anthropometric and ergonomic factors related to the job. Psychosocial work organization variables were examined with factor analysis techniques; an aggregate value for job strain was entered into the final model. Risk factors were examined via multivariate logistic regression techniques. RESULTS: High job strain was the most important factor affecting back injury (odds ratio [OR] = 2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.28, 3.52), and it showed a significant dose-response effect. Body mass index (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.08, 2.18) and a work movement index (twisting, extended reaching, and stooping) (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 0.97, 2.08) were also significant factors. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that increasing workers' control over their jobs reduces levels of job strain. Ergonomic strategies and worksite health promotion may help reduce other risk factors. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Ergonomics Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Nervous System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Back-injuries Biomechanics Materials-handling Muscle-function Musculoskeletal-system Psychomotor-disorders Psychomotor-function Psychophysiological-testing Skeletal-system Stress
• ISSN:
  0090-0036
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  89
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20031304
• Citation:
  Am J Public Health 1999 Jul; 89(7):1036-1041
• Contact Point Address:
  Harlem Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, New York, NY
• Email:
  men11@columbia.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1999
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities
• Performing Organization:
  The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19880930
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Public Health
• End Date:
  19910929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b5cf0a012583ba2e5a0627f946e71dac1ca35b411133de58a1c86acfddeb7f43db53e59406f344078cb3b8920f0dbc9168affd5ed1cc25f13c45729533559a6a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/191597/cdc_191597_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.63 MB ]