Identification of Ergonomics Interventions Used to Reduce Musculoskeletal Loading for Building Installation Tasks

Details

• Personal Author:
  Albers, James T. ; Estill, Cheryl F. ; MacDonald L
• Description:
  Skilled workers in the mechanical and electrical installation (M/EI) building and construction trades experience high rates of disabling work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The M/EI trades involve installing piping; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and electrical systems in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. In the absence of an ergonomics standard in the United States, some building and construction contractors, including M/EI sector contractors, have implemented various ergonomics interventions on their worksites on a voluntary basis. However, no data were available to determine the type of voluntary control measures being implemented, the task-specific hazards for which control measures needed to be developed or refined, and perceived barriers to improving hazard control. As part of a larger effort to obtain this data, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) organized a stakeholder meeting to gather information regarding ergonomics interventions or 'best practices' by M/EI contractors and tradespeople. The attendees included 39 industry representatives, 17 construction ergonomics researchers from government and academia, and four ergonomics consultants with experience in the construction industry. Participants spent more than 50% of time meeting in small trade-specific breakout sessions. According to the participants, tasks common to the three trades included (1) drill holes and shoot fasteners; (2) place and install systems, and (3) lift and carry materials and equipment. Engineering interventions described in the stakeholder meeting included tools, equipment, and engineered building materials; administrative controls largely consisted of training and education programs and modifications of work and management practice. Most participants believed that there were significant limits to the impact individual contractors and tradespeople could have in leading ergonomics improvement in the building and construction industry. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Construction Materials Electricity Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Construction Industry Construction-equipment Construction-industry Construction-materials Construction-workers Electrical-systems Ergonomics Intervention Hazards Injuries Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Occupational-hazards Occupational-safety-programs Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorder Workers

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• ISSN:
  0003-6870
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  427-439
• Volume:
  36
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20026869
• Citation:
  Appl Ergon 2005 Jul; 36(4):427-439
• Contact Point Address:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4676 Columbia Parkway, MS C-24, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
• Email:
  jalbers@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Low Back Disorders
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Ergonomics
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:72a95a7aae4821bac8dbd52f962fd3a1fce9a8529e5779015166d7fc5cd59409209d676d3dc6d1d23ceb47b14db169ccfaa5ab81085648c8d82ad076e2e7a53b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/197398/cdc_197398_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 249.13 KB ]