Low back injury risks during construction with prefabricated (panelised) walls: effects of task and design factors

New technology designed to increase productivity in residential construction may exacerbate the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among residential construction workers. Of interest here are panelised (prefabricated) wall systems (or panels) and facilitating an ongoing effort to provide proactive control of ergonomic exposures and risks among workers using panels. This study, which included 24 participants, estimated WMSD risks using five methods during common panel erection tasks and the influences of panel mass (sheathed vs. unsheathed) and size (wall length). WMSD risks were fairly high overall; e.g. 34% and 77% of trials exceeded the ‘action limits’ for spinal compressive and shear forces, respectively. Heavier (sheathed) panels significantly increased risks, although the magnitude of this effect differed with panel size and between tasks. Higher levels of risk were found in tasks originating from ground vs. knuckle height. Several practical recommendations based on the results are discussed. Statement of Relevance:Panelised wall systems have the potential to increase productivity in residential construction, but may result in increased worker injury risks. Results from this study can be used to generate future panel design and construction processes that can proactively address WMSD risks.

[1]  Jaap H. van Dieën,et al.  Are recruitment patterns of the trunk musculature compatible with a synergy based on the maximization of endurance , 1997 .

[2]  Judith K Sluiter,et al.  The use of ergonomic measures and musculoskeletal complaints among carpenters and pavers in a 4.5-year follow-up study , 2009, Ergonomics.

[3]  Hartmut Witte,et al.  ISB recommendation on definitions of joint coordinate system of various joints for the reporting of human joint motion--part I: ankle, hip, and spine. International Society of Biomechanics. , 2002, Journal of biomechanics.

[4]  F. Lötters,et al.  Are changes in mechanical exposure and musculoskeletal health good performance indicators for primary interventions? , 2002, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[5]  N. Devadasan,et al.  Health care utilization. , 1997, The National medical journal of India.

[6]  Maury A. Nussbaum,et al.  Development of a decision support system for residential construction using panellised walls: Approach and preliminary results , 2009, Ergonomics.

[7]  Jimmie Hinze,et al.  Viability of Designing for Construction Worker Safety , 2005 .

[8]  Steven A. Lavender,et al.  The effects of initial lifting height, load magnitude, and lifting speed on the peak dynamic L5/S1 moments , 2003 .

[9]  L. Chèze,et al.  Adjustments to McConville et al. and Young et al. body segment inertial parameters. , 2007, Journal of biomechanics.

[10]  W S Marras,et al.  Spinal loading when lifting from industrial storage bins , 2002, Ergonomics.

[11]  Bryan Buchholz,et al.  ISB recommendation on definitions of joint coordinate systems of various joints for the reporting of human joint motion--Part II: shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. , 2005, Journal of biomechanics.

[12]  W. Marras,et al.  An EMG-assisted model of loads on the lumbar spine during asymmetric trunk extensions. , 1993, Journal of biomechanics.

[13]  Hester J Lipscomb,et al.  Work-related injuries in residential and drywall carpentry. , 2003, Applied occupational and environmental hygiene.

[14]  P R Cavanagh,et al.  ISB recommendations for standardization in the reporting of kinematic data. , 1995, Journal of biomechanics.

[15]  Maury A. Nussbaum,et al.  Knowledge and opinions of designers of industrialized wall panels regarding incorporating ergonomics in design , 2008 .

[16]  Osama Abudayyeh,et al.  Occupational Injuries and Fatalities in the Roofing Contracting Industry , 2005 .

[17]  R. Norman,et al.  Shear Happens! Suggested guidelines for ergonomists to reduce the risk of low back injury from shear loading , 1998 .

[18]  G. Borg.  Psychophysical scaling with applications in physical work and the perception of exertion. , 1990, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[19]  Hester J Lipscomb,et al.  Direct Costs and Patterns of Injuries Among Residential Carpenters, 1995–2000 , 2003, Journal of occupational and environmental medicine.

[20]  R. Norman,et al.  Mechanically corrected EMG for the continuous estimation of erector spinae muscle loading during repetitive lifting , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[21]  Barbara Silverstein,et al.  Health Care Utilization for Musculoskeletal Back Disorders, Washington State Union Carpenters, 1989–2003 , 2009, Journal of occupational and environmental medicine.

[22]  John Gambatese,et al.  The trajectories of Prevention through Design in construction. , 2008, Journal of safety research.

[23]  Maury A. Nussbaum,et al.  An EMG-based model to estimate lumbar muscle forces and spinal loads during complex, high-effort tasks: Development and application to residential construction using prefabricated walls , 2011 .

[24]  Gary Davis,et al.  Physical risk factors and controls for musculoskeletal disorders in construction trades , 2006 .

[25]  D B Chaffin,et al.  Lumbar muscle force estimation using a subject-invariant 5-parameter EMG-based model. , 1998, Journal of biomechanics.

[26]  L McAtamney,et al.  RULA: a survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders. , 1993, Applied ergonomics.

[27]  J H van Dieën,et al.  Working height, block mass and one- vs. two-handed block handling: the contribution to low back and shoulder loading during masonry work , 2009, Ergonomics.

[28]  Mike J. Monroe,et al.  Ergonomic interventions for the reduction of low back stress in framing carpenters in the home building industry , 2003 .

[29]  J M Dement,et al.  Workers' compensation experience of North Carolina residential construction workers, 1986-1994. , 1999, Applied occupational and environmental hygiene.

[30]  Jimmie Hinze,et al.  Addressing construction worker safety in the design phase: Designing for construction worker safety , 1999 .

[31]  J. Challis.  A procedure for determining rigid body transformation parameters. , 1995, Journal of biomechanics.

[32]  J H van Dieën,et al.  Are recruitment patterns of the trunk musculature compatible with a synergy based on the maximization of endurance? , 1997, Journal of biomechanics.

[33]  A. Hof.  Scaling gait data to body size , 1996 .

[34]  A Garg,et al.  Revised NIOSH equation for the design and evaluation of manual lifting tasks. , 1993, Ergonomics.

[35]  T. Michael Toole.  Technological Trajectories of Construction Innovation , 2001 .

[36]  S Hignett,et al.  Rapid entire body assessment (REBA). , 2000, Applied ergonomics.

[37]  Thomas R. Waters,et al.  Applications manual for the revised NIOSH lifting equation , 1994 .

[38]  W. G. Allread,et al.  The Role of Dynamic Three-Dimensional Trunk Motion in Occupationally-Related Low Back Disorders: The Effects of Workplace Factors, Trunk Position, and Trunk Motion Characteristics on Risk of Injury , 1993, Spine.

[39]  Charles L Geraci,et al.  National Prevention through Design (PtD) Initiative. , 2008, Journal of safety research.