Zakariyyah, K I; Aghimien, D O; Faremi, O J and Zakariyyah, B O (2025) Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDS) through the lens of previous studies: Social sustainability-inhibiting features. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 15(3), pp. 663-681. ISSN 2044-124X
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to identify the theoretical linkage between work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) and social sustainability to increase awareness of WRMSDs’ social sustainability-inhibiting features and preventive strategies. Design/methodology/approach: This qualitative research adopts a systematic literature review (SLR) approach. Adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 303 documents from the Scopus database (2003–2024) were analysed using bibliometric technique and content analysis. Findings: The study identified key bibliometric metrics such as top journals, most recent authors and publications. The trend shows that documents and citations initially progressed, then stagnated but later rose, and recently, documents have risen independently of citations. Only six journals contribute the most (43 of 85% overall citations; 23 of 73% overall publications), and 13 authors are the most influential. The content analysis revealed that 80% of the recent studies centred on risk assessment (RA) with only 5% on health assessment impact (HAI). Research limitations/implications: The findings are limited to the review period. Social implications: WRMSD is injurious to well-being, impairs performance, and impacts society through reduced productivity, medication use and time off work. Therefore, proactive strategies must be implemented to minimise its occurrence and severity. Originality/value: This study’s novelty lies in text mining WRMSD literature by raising awareness of its social inhibiting features so that occupational ill health is minimised, project health and workers’ well-being are enhanced, and the industry’s social sustainability is raised.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ageing; bibliometric; objective-inclusive-practice; occupational diseases and risk factors; social sustainability; work-related musculoskeletal disorder |
| Index terms: | publication, content analysis, risk factor, strategy, linkage, journal, qualitative research, systematic literature review, society, productivity, methodology, database, mining, risk assessment, social sustainability, meta-analysis, occupational disease, well-being, documents |
| Subjects: | mental health and wellbeing, geotechnical engineering, research dissemination and communication, communities and social development, occupational health and safety management, research evaluation and metrics, financial risk, environmental hazards, management, data management, research methods, research design and methodology, data analysis and analytics, professional development, business |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Sustainability, Information Management, Cost Management, Research Practice, Health and Safety, Stakeholder Management, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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