Does drywall installers' innovative idea reduce the ergonomic exposures of ceiling installation: a field case study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Buchholz B ; Dasgupta PS ; Kuhn S ; Moir S ; Punnett, Laura
• Description:
  OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted to assess an intervention suggested by the workers to reduce the physical or ergonomic exposures of the drywall installation task. METHODS: The drywall installers were asked to brainstorm on innovative ideas that could reduce their ergonomic exposures during the drywall installation work. The workers proposed the idea of using a 'deadman' (narrow panel piece) to hold the panels to the ceiling while installing them. The researcher collected quantitative exposure data (PATH, 3DSSPP) at the baseline and intervention phases and compared the phases to find out any change in the exposure while using the 'deadman'. RESULTS: Results showed that ergonomic exposures (such as overhead arm and awkward trunk postures and heavy load handling) were reduced at the intervention phase while using the 'deadman' with an electrically operated lift. CONCLUSION: The concept of the 'deadman', which was shown to help reduce musculoskeletal exposures during ceiling installation, can be used to fabricate a permanent ergonomic tool to support the ceiling drywall panel. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Construction Materials Environmental Exposure Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Drywall Ceiling Installation Construction Construction Materials Drywall Exposure Levels Exposure Reduction Innovative Ideas MSD Musculoskeletal System Musculoskeletal System Disorders Physiological Effects Physiological Factors Physiology Risk Factors Tools

  More +
• ISSN:
  0003-6870
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  183-193
• Volume:
  55
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049089
• Citation:
  Appl Ergon 2016 Jul; 55:183-193
• Contact Point Address:
  Priyadarshini Sengupta Dasgupta, Marshall University, 1676 3rd Avenue, Huntington 25755, West Virginia
• Email:
  dasguptap@marshall.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Ergonomics
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:86b507a5e01609129ee86b1a7feb810b024c9eb13a85601906194ae8711fde2886050d40dbdb5ba6319c8e11db742a595833e5bd6c1ac16bd36d31dfe83df6df
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/203662/cdc_203662_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.20 MB ]