Evaluation of a Participatory Ergonomics Intervention in Small Commercial Construction Firms

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Am J Ind Med
• Personal Author:
  Dale, Ann Marie ; Jaegers, Lisa ; Welch, Laura ; Gardner, Bethany T. ; Buchholz, Bryan ; Weaver, Nancy ; Evanoff, Bradley A.
• Description:
  Background
  
  Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) among construction workers remain high. Participatory ergonomics (PE) interventions that engage workers and employers in reducing work injury risks have shown mixed results.
  
  Methods
  
  Eight-six workers from seven contractors participated in a PE program. A logic model guided the process evaluation and summative evaluation of short term and intermediate impacts and long term outcomes from surveys and field records.
  
  Results
  
  Process measures showed good delivery of training, high worker engagement, and low contractor participation. Workers’ knowledge improved and workers reported changes to work practices and tools used; contractor provision of appropriate equipment was low (33%). No changes were seen in symptoms or reported physical effort.
  
  Conclusions
  
  The PE program produced many worker-identified ergonomic solutions, but lacked needed support from contractors. Future interventions should engage higher levels of the construction organizational system to improve contractor involvement for reducing WMSD.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Contract Services Ergonomics Humans Models, Organizational Musculoskeletal Diseases Occupational Diseases Occupational Injuries Program Evaluation Workplace
• Source:
  Am J Ind Med. 59(6):465-475.
• Pubmed ID:
  27094450
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5331880
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  U60 OH009762/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States ; UL1 TR000448/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States
• Volume:
  59
• Issue:
  6
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:8210db8f9ca4dc805d65703d092b8cf7e8e4e40f92b52399b13aafac41a61e23
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/44465/cdc_44465_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 344.27 KB ]