Concrete Leveling Techniques – a Comparative Ergonomic Assessment

Details

• Personal Author:
  Albers, James T. ; Russell S ; Stewart K
• Description:
  Removing excess concrete and leveling concrete to grade - a.k.a. concrete screeding - can be accomplished using a number of different techniques. Five concrete screeding techniques were evaluated to characterize construction workers exposures to risk factors for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD). Workers were videotaped using manual, vibratory, roller, and laser screeding equipment on new construction sites. WMSD risk factors for the five screeding techniques were analyzed using the following ergonomic assessment methods: Posture, Activity, Tools, and Handling (PATH), ACGIH Hand Activity Level TLV, Strain Index, Washington State Ergonomic Rule, Liberty Mutual Manual Material Handling Tables and the NIOSH revised lifting equation. The most serious risks for developing musculoskeletal injuries of the upper extremity and back were observed during manual and roller screeding. Powered screeding techniques generally presented less risk than manual screeding, but these techniques can require brief periods of medium to high exertion for lifting tasks. Vibratory screed operators are exposed to hand-arm vibration, but vibration levels were not measured. Operating the walk-behind and the cab operated laser screeds presented the least risk. Suggestions are provided to limit the use of hand screeding, and to minimize potential exposure to risk factors related to operating and handling the powered screeding equipment. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Ergonomics Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Musculoskeletal Diseases Occupational Health Risk Assessment Safety Vibration
• Keywords:
  Cements Concretes Construction-equipment Construction-workers Human-factors-engineering Injury-prevention Machine-operators Manual-lifting Manual-materials-handling Masons Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Risk-analysis

  More +
• ISBN:
  9780945289241
• ISSN:
  1071-1813
• Publisher:
  Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Louisiana ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  48
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20027060
• Citation:
  Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 48th Annual Meeting, September 20-24, 2004, New Orleans, Louisiana. Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 2004 Sep; 48(12):1349-1353
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2004
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 48th Annual Meeting, September 20-24, 2004, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:77f317e938b627d9614ce505d41dd501f3b51e88c60b636d51eaf74134fe3bb60379cbb2e41975520fd6ffbf98c84eda0937362da5a4df9b31e3ed75bcd15f12
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/197448/cdc_197448_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 438.80 KB ]