Details:

Alternative Title:
Hum Factors
Personal Author:
Waters, Thomas R. ; MacDonald, Leslie A. ; Hudock, Stephen D. ; Goddard, Donald E.
Waters, Thomas R. ; MacDonald, Leslie A. ; Hudock, Stephen D. ; Goddard, Donald E. Less -
Description:
Objective

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Revised Lifting Equation (RNLE) was adapted to derive recommended weight limits (RWLs) for pregnant workers and to develop corresponding guidelines for clinicians.

Background

In the past three decades there has been a large increase in the number of women employed outside the home and remaining in the workforce during pregnancy. Practical authoritative guidelines based on accumulated evidence are needed to inform allowable work activity levels for healthy pregnant workers.

Method

Empirically based lifting criteria established by NIOSH to reduce the risk of overexertion injuries in the general U.S. working population were evaluated for application to pregnant workers. Our evaluation included an extensive review of the literature linking occupational lifting to maternal and fetal health. Decision logic and supporting literature are presented, along with computational details.

Results

Provisional RWLs for pregnant workers were derived from the RNLE, along with guidelines for clinicians. The guidelines advise against pregnant workers lifting below midshin and overhead.

Conclusion

Based on our review of the available evidence, we present lifting thresholds that most pregnant workers with uncomplicated pregnancies should be able to perform without increased risk of adverse maternal and fetal health consequences. Except for restrictions involving lifting from the floor and overhead, the provisional guidelines presented are compatible with NIOSH lifting recommendations adopted in the early 1990s for the general working population.

Application

Implementation of these provisional guidelines could protect millions of female workers in the work-place from fetal and maternal lifting-related health problems.


Subject:
[+]
Adult
Article
Biomechanical Phenomena
Female
Guidelines As Topic
Humans
Lifting
Manual Lifting
National Institute For Occupational Safety And Health (U.S.)
Occupational Diseases
Occupational Hazard
Pregnancy
Recommendations
Risk Factors
Pregnancy

Source:
Hum Factors. 56(1):203-214.
Pubmed ID:
24669554
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC4606868
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
Place as Subject:
United States
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:bcdbc91ff49f0884039d499b6cd6c090b951452a1c4bb9d578a66cfac75e9352
File Type:

Supporting Files

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