Phase Level Assessment of Ergonomic Intervention Effectiveness in Reducing Knee Musculoskeletal Disorder Risks During Residential Roof Shingle Installation

Details

• Personal Author:
  Breloff SP ; Carey RE ; Dai F ; Hawke AL ; Moore KD ; Sinsel EW ; Warren CM ; Wu, John Z. ; Zerin N
• Description:
  Background: This study aimed to assess how knee savers (KSs) and knee pads (KPs) alleviate risks of knee musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among roofers during various phases of shingle installation. These phases encompass (1) reaching for shingles, (2) placing shingles, (3) grabbing a nail gun, (4) moving to the first nailing position, (5) nailing shingles, (6) replacing the nail gun, and (7) returning to an upright position. Methods: In a laboratory setting, nine male participants simulated the shingle installation task on a slope-adjustable roof platform (0 degree, 15 degree, and 30 degree slopes) under four intervention conditions: no intervention (NO); with KPs only (KP); with KSs only (KS); and with both KPs and KSs (BO). Knee flexion, abduction, adduction, and internal/external rotations were measured to assess intervention impact through statistical analysis. Results: Phase 5 (nailing shingles), one of the riskiest phases, saw reduced knee rotations, with BO and KP interventions being the most effective. Phase 6 (replacing the nail gun) exhibited notable reductions in all knee rotations, primarily due to BO intervention. Significant improvements in certain knee angles for other phases were noted, particularly with BO intervention. Conclusions: BO and KP can lower knee strain by minimizing extreme knee postures and thereby reducing the risk of MSDs during the installation of shingles, especially at critical periods and on steeper slopes. This study highlights the importance of applying focused ergonomic techniques in the roofing sector to improve workers' musculoskeletal health. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Dust Mining Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords:construction Roofers Construction Ergonomic Interventions Ergonomics Injuries Intervention Effectiveness Knee Injuries Knee Protection Lower Extremities MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Repetitive Work Risk Assessment Roofers

  More +
• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Chicago Region [OSHA] ; Ohio ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA] ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering ; HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  68
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070453
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2025 Mar; 68(S1):S131-S143
• Contact Point Address:
  Fei Dai, Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
• Email:
  fei.dai@mail.wvu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ef337ff67ddf33b95780cc97d154024d37f395fd0d10d6e807911aa021828f35874c4d3397e8e3be67e1325930d765979a9fdea553d4e43a85e22983f0e12ac0
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208657/cdc_208657_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.14 MB ]