Ergonomics and Construction: A Review of Potential Hazards in New Construction

Abstract

This article reviews potential ergonomic hazards in new construction work, summarizing findings from published literature and from a 15-month investigation of health hazards on a new construction site in suburban Washington, D.C. The review is structured to follow the sequence of events in the construction process. Ergonomic solutions are included where they have been developed. Highway work and renovation and demolition of existing structures, the segments of construction that are growing, are not discussed here. However, many of the same problems and principles apply to other sectors of construction.

Low Back Pain Among Residential Carpenters: Ergonomic Evaluation Using OWAS and 2D Compression Estimation

“…Guo et al [7,8] evaluated data from over 30 000 respondents and found that construction laborers and carpenters had the highest prevalence of back pain within the construction industry when comparing trades and industries. Among construction workers, back pain is endemic [5] in part due to workplace risk factors such as awkward postures, heavy lifting, pushing and pulling, and prolonged exertion [20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27].…”

Variables Antropométricas Y Su Relación Con La Fuerza-Prensión De Mano, Para El Uso Ergonómico De Herramientas Manuales en Un Grupo De Trabajadores Del Sector De La Construcción en Bogotá

“…Existe evidencia que los desórdenes músculo esqueléticos son los principales problemas en la industria de la construcción [4], debido a que las actividades que se realizan en este tipo de industria comúnmente requieren elevada demanda físi-ca de trabajo, posturas forzadas, levantamiento de cargas, uso frecuente de herramientas manuales y otros esfuerzos enérgicos [5]. Se ha demostrado que los trabajadores de la construcción muestran elevado riesgo de desarrollar lesiones músculo esqueléticas relacionadas con el trabajo en espalda baja, hombros, manos, muñecas y rodillas, lo cual genera elevados costos para las empresas y la fuerza de trabajo [5][6][7].…”

“…Se ha demostrado que los trabajadores de la construcción muestran elevado riesgo de desarrollar lesiones músculo esqueléticas relacionadas con el trabajo en espalda baja, hombros, manos, muñecas y rodillas, lo cual genera elevados costos para las empresas y la fuerza de trabajo [5][6][7].…”

Work capacity assessment of Nigerian bricklayers

“…Working in the construction industry has been considered to have ergonomic problem due to the fact that it requires working above the shoulder and below the knee height (Schneider & Susi, 1994). Similarly, Samuelsson and Lundholm (2006) observed that the ergonomic problem in the construction industry could be as a result of heavy lifting, working on one side, and strenuous work postures.…”