EVALUATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL WORK LOAD, WORK RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS, AND POSTURAL STRESS OF CARPENTERS IN RELATION TO THEIR WORK EXPERIENCE (original) (raw)
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AIHAJ, 2000
The purpose of this study was to determine how carpenters subjectively perceived the exertion level and body discomfort associated with their daily tasks. Two psychophysical instruments were utilized. The Borg Whole Body Physical Exertion Instrument, a measure of overall physical demand, and the Body Segment instrument (modified Bishop-Corlett Scale), a measure of body discomfort, were given to 73 carpenters at the end of a shift. Carpentry specialties evaluated included ceiling, drywall, formwork, finishing work, pile driving, fixtures, welding, and scaffolding. The mean Borg's exertion score for the subjects combining all specialties was 14.4 (Ϯ2.51 standard deviation), a score between ''somewhat hard'' and ''hard.'' The perception of whole body physical exertion appeared to be a consequence of the specific task. There was no significant correlation between whole body physical exertion perception and age or the number of years as a carpenter. The findings from the body discomfort scale for the total group indicated that the three primary discomfort frequencies by body segment were mid-to-lower back (65.8%), knees (45.2%), and the neck (28.8%). The next highest discomfort rating by body segment (back, knee, right wrist, right leg/foot, and right shoulder) for those subjects in the top three job specialties represented (drywall, ceiling, and formwork; n ϭ 38) resulted in significantly higher ratings for back (60.5%) than right leg/foot (34.2%) and right shoulder (31.6%). All other body segment ratings were not significantly different from one another using Tukey's studentized range test.
Prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders in active union carpenters
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 1998
Objectives-To determine the prevalence and risk factors for work related musculoskeletal disorders among union carpenters. Methods-A detailed questionnaire on musculoskeletal symptoms and work history was administered to 522 carpenters. The symptom questions assessed if carpenters experienced pain, numbness, or tingling in a particular body region. A subset of this group then received a physical examination of the upper extremities and knees. Results-The study group was primarily white (94.9%) and male (97.8%) with a mean age of 42.3 years. The highest prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders cases by carpentry specialty ranged from 20%-24% for those doing drywall or ceiling, finishing or framing, and the building of concrete forms. Generally, as duration of employment increased, the prevalence of symptoms increased. An adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that the group with the longest (>20 years) duration of employment in carpentry was significantly associated with work related musculoskeletal disorders of the shoulders (odds ratio (OR) 3.2, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.1 to 8.9), hands or wrists(OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.1 to 8.4), and knees (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3 to 9.2). Also, analyses showed that carpenters who reported that they had little or no influence over their work schedule had significant increases of work related musculoskeletal disorders of the shoulders, hips, and knees with ORs of 1.9 (95% CI 1.1 to 3.2), 2.9 (95% CI 1.1 to 7.2), and 2.3 (95% CI 1.2 to 4.1), respectively. Feeling exhausted at the end of day was also a significant risk factor for work related musculoskeletal disorders of the knee (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.1). Upper extremity disorders were the most prevalent work related musculoskeletal disorders reported among all carpenters. Drywall or ceiling activities involve a considerable amount of repetitive motion and awkward postures often with arms raised holding heavy dry walls in place, whereas form work is notable for extensive lumbar flexion and had the two highest rates of work related musculoskeletal disorders. The psychosocial element of job control was associated with both upper and lower extremity disorders. These union carpenters , who were relatively young, already were experiencing considerable work related physical problems. Conclusion-This study supports the need for vigilant ergonomic intervention at job sites and early ergonomic education as an integral part of apprenticeship school training to ensure that carpenters remain fit and healthy throughout their working lifetime.
An ergonomic study on musculoskeletal health hazards among sawmill workers of West Bengal, India
Journal of human ergology, 2011
The study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort among the sawmill workers of Kolkata and to identify the causative factors behind the development of such discomfort. For this study 110 male workers were randomly selected. For the symptom survey, modified Nordic questionnaire on detail discomfort feelings was performed. Analysis of working posture, repetitiveness of work, measurement of handgrip strength, measurement of pre and post working heart rate, measurement of lower back muscle flexibility were performed on the selected sawmill workers suffering from musculoskeletal discomfort. The results revealed that musculoskeletal discomfort was a major problem among the sawmill workers, primarily involving the lower back (100%), neck (95.96%), wrist (87.78%), and shoulder (84.44%). Their activities were highly repetitive and the handgrip strength of these workers was significantly lower than that of the comparison group. The results also revealed that m...
2002
A combination of archival, subjective, and observational field data collection methods were used to investigate the relationship between biomechanical and postural stresses, and the resulting physical strain experienced by industrial workers of a packaging plant. Assessment of physical strain was based on the number and incidence rate of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-reportable injuries that were recorded over a period of 27 months, and based on the self-reported ratings of perceived body discomfort. Both the biomechanical and postural stresses correlated with the musculoskeletal injury rate. The results illustrate the usefulness of postural and biomechanical analyses for assessing the risk of injury in industry.
This study aims to investigate the exposure to risk factors for WMSDs using Quick Exposure Check (QEC) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) in woodworking workers with four main tasks, including cutting, lifting, assembling, and finishing products. Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are one of the major occupational health problems among woodworkers, especially in developed and developing countries, such as Malaysia. Recently, numerous studies on MSDs have been widely explored, yet the culture, environment and regulatory practices on hazard and risk may differ in each country. Method: The study was conducted on 30 workers in 3 woodworking workshops in Selangor, Malaysia. Through this study, demographic surveys, QEC, and REBA were examined. Results: The results indicated that the most critical task is the lifting and assembling activity. Conclusion: These two activities may require an ergonomic intervention to reduce WMSDs risks.
––Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are amongst the most common work-related problem in India. In Indian saw mill yards we find all the conditions which expose workers to MSD risks: hard environmental conditions (low temperatures, slippery and uneven ground), heavy works (manual handling of loads, back flexed and twisted) and dangerous tools and machineries such as chainsaws. The high manual work load can therefore cause MSDs amongst the loggers. This pathology risk increases with the component 'vibration' induced by chainsaws, tractors, skidders and other machineries. In this study we have considered different logger groups working in saw mills and we have analysed their MSD risk exposure, the typical case of manual workers in a saw mill process in northern Karnataka State, India is investigated. Most workers are male. In an Indian saw mill most of the work is still carried out manually hence issues of work related musculoskeletal disorders and injury in different parts of the body are prominent. Postural analysis using REBA, RULA indicates that the workers are working above the safe limit. The average REBA score observed was 7.5. The hazardous postures and MSD's were also justified by the questionnaires and VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) techniques. Moreover the workers were exposed to noise above the OSHA's safe limits for prolonged time. These methods indicated that different body parts at specific postures are vulnerable to injury and musculoskeletal disorders and warrant immediate ergonomics intervention.
International Journal of Construction Management, 2017
The Indian construction industry is enormously growing and continuously needs to recruit workers to deliver projects. A majority of these construction workers are semi-skilled or unskilled, which puts a great deal of demand on the construction workers and predisposes them to stress at work, which in turn leads to ill health. This study was aimed at evaluating the occupational stress and other factors in the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and their impact on the quality of life of these workers. Standard questionnaires were used for assessment and six occupational groups were studied. The construction workers worked long hours and were burdened with stress and most of the workers reported musculoskeletal pain in the body parts that were mostly used during the tasks performed. These workers scored poor in all the domains of the quality of life. These data will provide a baseline for risk evaluation and would increase the effectiveness of preventive measures to be undertaken and a basis for further research in long-term follow-up studies.