Ergonomic Back Injury Risk Factors in Construction Glass and Glazing Work

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ahn CR ; Herstein KR ; Jabbarani Torghabeh Z ; Stentz TL
• Description:
  Construction workers regularly experience heavy workloads and various physical stressors that can result in debilitating Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs). Construction glass and glazing (CGG) workers have high rates of WRMSDs, particularly low back injuries, but little is known about the tasks and conditions that contribute to their ergonomic risks. This study systematically evaluated this trade's work to identify problems leading to the higher incidence rates and to gather information about improvements needed to mitigate the risk. A comprehensive job description for this trade was developed through site observations and interviews. CGG job tasks were identified and classified in five categories including: general tasks, frame installation tasks, glass/panel installation tasks, finishing tasks, and loading/unloading tasks. Ergonomic task-based estimates were done using the Posture, Activity, Tools, and Handling (PATH) method and the CGG workers' level of risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries was scaled using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method. The results of this study provided a baseline database for future evaluations of ergonomic interventions to reduce CGG workers' risk for injury. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Back Injuries Construction Industry Construction Workers Glass Workers Injuries MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Posture Risk Factors
• Publisher:
  CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; Maryland ; Oregon ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-67
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057477
• Citation:
  Silver Spring, MD: CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training, 2019 Jun; :1-67
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20090901
• Source Full Name:
  Ergonomic back injury risk factors in construction glass and glazing work
• End Date:
  20240831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:33442ca0ac2a73bdbec5c151559d930f5508ffc6c226dbf4ba05bc38d13e3f36f5b9c070f3b25d1688eabd0993d3a15c13770930711187923defe8741ef972ad
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/214820/cdc_214820_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.25 MB ]