283644
Working in hazardous trunk postures: Preliminary findings from patient care unit and construction worker pilot studies
Methods: An inclinometer device (G-Link Data Loggers; Microstrain, Inc; Williston, VT, USA) mounted on the worker's back collected information on trunk flexion during an 8-12 hour single-day work shift from a convenience sample of PCU workers (n=48; from two acute care hospitals in 2011) and of construction workers (currently n=11; goal n= 60 by March 2013 from 5 commercial sites). Trunk flexion was categorized into 4 groups: (1) <-10°, (2) >-10°–20°, (3) >20°–45°, and (4) >45°. We calculated the time (duration) in each category and the frequency of bending per hour within categories.
Results: PCU workers had trunk flexion while at work on average of 3% at <-10˚, 74% at -10˚ to 20˚, 19% at >20˚ to 45˚ and 5% at >45˚ during a single shift. Preliminarily, for the 11 construction workers collected so far, trunk flexion while at work, averaged 6% at <-10˚, 80% at -10˚ to 20˚, 10% at >20˚ to 45˚ and 4% at >45˚ during a single shift.
Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest that PCU and construction workers adopt hazardous trunk postures for long time periods while at work.
Occupational health and safety
Learning Objectives:
Describe how to measure trunk posture while at work in construction workers.
Identify differences in trunk postures between two physically demanding jobs.
Keywords: Ergonomics, Occupational Disease
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a doctoral candidate in Ergonomics and Safety. My research focus is on injury prevention in physically demanding jobs.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.