Evaluation of alternate category structures for the strain index: an empirical analysis

Details

• Personal Author:
  Fethke NB ; Gerr F ; Meyers, Alysha R.
• Description:
  Objective: The purpose fo this study was to develop alternative Strain Index risk classification categories. Background: Strain Index scores are usually categorized into four Strain Index "risk categories." The "original" risk categories were developed in the meat-packing industry and may not be fully applicable to other industries. Method: Daily Strain Index scores were estimated among 276 manufacturing workers participating in a cohort study of occupational risk factors for hand-arm musculoskeletal symptoms. Each score was categorized using the original method and a new method based on quartiles of Strain Index score values among symptomatic participants. Models examining associations between original Strain Index risk categories and incident hand-arm symptoms were compared to models examining associations between the alternative Strain Index risk categories and incident hand-arm symptoms. Results: Compared to the respective referent categories, a twofold or greater increase in the risk of incident hand-arm symptoms was observed for the highest original Strain Index risk category (HR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.08-3.92) and for the second highest alternate Strain Index risk exposure category (HR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.26-3.85). Although significant associations between Strain Index risk category and incident hand-arm symptoms were observed for both Strain Index categorization methods, model fit statistics favored the alternate approach. Conclusion: Results from this study suggests that the Strain Index risk category structure may need to be tailored to specific populations. Application: If verified, results from this study provide a better way to identify hazardous manufacturing jobs and target them for exposure reduction. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Food Handling
  • Food Industry
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases
  • Musculoskeletal System
  • Occupational Health
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Safety
  • Workplace
• Keywords:
  • Risk factors
  • Meat packing industry
  • Meat handlers
  • Workers
  • Work environment
  • Musculoskeletal system
  • Musculoskeletal system disorders
  • Hand injuries
  • Repetitive work
  • Models
  More +
• ISSN:
  0018-7208
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant ; Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Iowa ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 7
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  131-142
• Volume:
  56
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20042859
• Citation:
  Hum Factors 2014 Feb; 56(1):131-142
• Contact Point Address:
  Alysha R. Meyers, Industrywide Studies Branch, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, R-15, Cincinnati, OH 45226
• Email:
  ARMeyers@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Iowa
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20080601
• Source Full Name:
  Human Factors
• End Date:
  20090821
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/194944/cdc_194944_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 507.68 KB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:176f7da971c44d7997a5c3d18e5b1dd05e1c64f685caa497ed3d5d103d3b3db2ed102993ac8877f468b6e70d1d6f261222339bdf9546b0943b11297ed89bee44