Prevent Musculoskeletal Injuries in Construction

 

Simple ways to prevent painful and often disabling musculoskeletal injuries in the construction industry are described by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in a new publication, Simple Solutions: Ergonomics for Construction Workers.

The NIOSH guide suggests a range of practical interventions to prevent common occupational injuries from handling heavy or awkward loads, making repetitive movements, and other physical demands of construction work. All of the interventions have been used on actual construction work sites.

 

In 2005, construction employers reported 35,900 work-related musculoskeletal disorders that resulted in one or more days away from work for injured employees. Available data indicate that such injuries are disproportionately high in construction, compared with the average for all industries. The simple solutions in the NIOSH publication are organized according to the types of construction work in which physical demands can pose risks for musculoskeletal injuries: 1) floor and ground-level work, 2) overhead work, 3) lifting, holding, and handling materials, and 4) hand-intensive work. In each category, individual tip sheets describe practical interventions for specific work activities or equipment, such as power-assisted rebar tiers.

 

The tip sheet format is designed to make it easy for employers and workers to use the guide on site, and to fit the interventions to everyday work activities. Many of the solutions can be adopted by workers and supervisors, while others may need the involvement of the building owner or general contractor.

 

For more information about NIOSH research and recommendations to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses in the construction industry, visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/construction/. More information about NIOSH research and recommendations for preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ergonomics/.