Spielholz, P; Davis, G and Griffith, J (2006) Physical risk factors and controls for musculoskeletal disorders in construction trades. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 132(10), pp. 1059-1068. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Adoption of the Washington State Ergonomics Rule in 2000 initiated seven different demonstration projects in nine high-risk construction trades. The Ergonomics Rule was repealed in 2003, however valuable cooperative field research was conducted in construction prior to rule dissolution. This paper presents summaries and results of each project with the aim of providing the results to construction professionals and researchers seeking to identify and reduce injury risks and building costs. The projects were organized independently but each with the specific aims of conducting work in conjunction with industry, identifying "hazard zone" risk factors as defined by the rule, and identifying feasible solutions in agreement with company partners to mitigate these risk factors. Musculoskeletal injury risk factors were evaluated by ergonomist field observation and working group analysis. Solutions were developed through field work and consensus agreement with industry and labor representatives. Identified injury risk factors and technically feasible interventions are presented for the following trades: Roofing, residential framing, residential carpet and floor installation, commercial carpentry, commercial laborers, commercial concrete reinforcement, commercial concrete finishing, drywalling, and masonry.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | accidents; cost control; injuries; occupational safety; safety programs |
| Index terms: | occupational safety, ergonomics, framing, roofing, safety programs, injury, construction professional, cost control, reinforcement, risk factor |
| Subjects: | building materials, conceptual models, design practice, occupational health and safety management, professional development, health conditions and diseases, financial and cost management, environmental hazards |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Construction Materials, Sustainability, Design Practice, Research Practice, Information Management, Cost Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here