A new method for overhead drilling

Factors Associated with Poor Quality of Sleep in Construction Workers: A Secondary Data Analysis

This study aimed to explore factors associated with poor quality of sleep in construction workers. This study was cross-sectional, correlational in design and used secondary data from fatigue instrument development study. We analyzed the data from 206 participants aged over 19 years who worked at construction sites for more than 6 months. We used multivariate binary logistic regression to identify the factors associated with poor quality of sleep. We classified the two sleep quality groups based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score, and almost 63% of them were classified as the poor quality of sleep group. Based on multivariate binary logistic regression (Cox and Snell R2 = 0.317, Nagelkerke R2 = 0.429), the poor quality of sleep group tended to sleep for a shorter duration before the working day, and not only showed lower sleep latency and higher levels of daytime dysfunction and discomfort in daily life, but also had more chronic disease, depressive symptoms, and higher physical fatigue. Our study findings support that there are many modifiable factors associated with poor sleep and a high rate of poor quality of sleep occurred in construction workers. Thus, clinicians should consider providing diverse options for applying interventions to ensure better sleep, fatigue management, and depression prevention in construction workers after considering their unique characteristics.

Interventions to Mitigate Fatigue Induced by Physical Work: A Systematic Review of Research Quality and Levels of Evidence for Intervention Efficacy

OBJECTIVE

We present a literature review on workplace physical fatigue interventions, focusing on evaluating the methodological quality and strength of evidence.

BACKGROUND

Physical fatigue is a recognized workplace problem, with negative effects on performance and health-related complaints. Although many studies have focused on the mechanisms and consequences of fatigue, few have considered the effectiveness of interventions to mitigate fatigue.

METHOD

A systematic review of the workplace safety literature for controlled trials of physical fatigue interventions was conducted. Data on intervention type, subject characteristics, targeted tasks and body locations, outcome measures, and study design were extracted. The methodological quality for each study was evaluated using the PEDro scale, and the level of evidence was based on quality, amount, and consistency.

RESULTS

Forty-five controlled trials were reviewed, examining 18 interventions. We categorized those interventions into individual-focused (N = 28 studies, nine interventions), workplace-focused (N = 12 studies, five interventions), and multiple interventions (N = 5 studies, four interventions). We identified moderate evidence for interventions related to assistive devices and task variation. There was moderate evidence supporting no fatigue attenuation for the garment change category of interventions. The interventions in the remaining categories had limited to minimal evidence of efficacy. The heterogeneity of the included trials precludes the determination of effect size.

CONCLUSION

This review showed a lack of high levels of evidence for the effectiveness of most physical fatigue interventions.

APPLICATION

Due to a lack of high levels of evidence for any category of reviewed physical fatigue interventions, further high-quality studies are needed to establish the efficacy of others.

Design and evaluation of a feed handle for a bench drilling machine

BACKGROUND: Despite extensive industrial use, no major modifications to the bench drilling machine, with respect to ease of operation, have been undertaken. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of the study were to design a new feed handle (NFH) to perform the drilling task on a bench drilling machine and evaluate the existing (EFH) and new feed handles on the basis of performance measures like drilling productivity in terms of metal removal rate (MRR) and worker performance in terms of perceived discomfort score (PDS). METHODS: Participants performed the drilling task on a steel block for three different working durations at two drilling speeds. RESULTS: ANOVA analysis carried out for the MRR data showed that drilling speed had a statistically significant effect on the task performance of the operator for both handles. However, the task duration was found to be statistically significant only for the EFH. The ANOVA results obtained on the PDS data showed that the task duration and drilling speed had a statistically significant effect on the task performance of the operator for both systems. CONCLUSIONS: The MRR obtained was higher when the drilling task was carried out using NFH. An appreciable decrease in PDS was also observed using the proposed system.

An analysis of permanent work disability among construction sheet metal workers

BACKGROUND

Causes of permanent work disability in the sheet metal industry are not well characterized.

METHODS

Pension records were used to compare causes of disability among sheet metal workers and the U.S. working population. Subgroup analysis examined the major causes of sheet metal worker disability.

RESULTS

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), circulatory disease, and injuries were leading causes of sheet metal worker disability (47.2%, 13.7%, 10.9% of awards, respectively). Award distribution differed from the U.S. working population (P < 0.0001); MSDs and injuries accounted for higher proportions of sheet metal worker awards, particularly at spine, shoulder, and knee.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher proportions of awards caused by MSD or injury among sheet metal workers may reflect higher rates of work-related injuries and MSDs, a high likelihood of disability with construction work given the same impairment, or higher prevalence of other conditions in the general population. Prevention requires task-specific ergonomic innovations and proven participatory interventions.

Best practices for health and safety technology transfer in construction

BACKGROUND

Construction continues to be a dangerous industry, yet solutions that would prevent injury and illness do exist. Prevention of injury and illness among construction workers requires dissemination, adoption, and implementation of these effective interventions, or "research to practice" (r2p).

METHODS

CPWR recruited participants with experience and insight into effective methods for diffusion of health and safety technologies in this industry for a symposium with 3 group sessions and 3 breakout groups. The organizers reviewed session notes and identified 141 recommendations, which were then assigned to 13 over-arching themes.

RESULTS

Recommendations included a guide for researchers on patenting and licensing, a business case model, and in-depth case studies including development, testing, manufacturing, marketing, and diffusion.

CONCLUSIONS

A more comprehensive understanding of the health and safety technology transfer landscape, the various actors, and their motivators and goals will help to foster the successful commercialization and diffusion of health and safety innovations.

Detecting within- and between-day manifestations of neuromuscular fatigue at work: an exploratory study

Cumulative neuromuscular fatigue may result from exposure to physically demanding work, such as repetitive and/or sustained work with insufficient recovery. The aims of this exploratory study were to develop a battery of field usable fatigue measures and to document hand/arm fatigue in physically demanding work over multiple workdays and after a weekend break. Sixteen plumbers were observed for five days and measures of handgrip force, variability, tremor and discomfort were obtained pre-, mid- and post-shift. This exploratory study demonstrated increasing fatigue of the hand/arm over the day and persistent fatigue from Tuesday to Friday, and that a number of the measures did not return to baseline values following a weekend break. The findings provide preliminary evidence of cumulative fatigue in residential plumbing and insight into neuromuscular fatigue measurement. However, further work is needed to develop and refine a set of fatigue measures to detect neuromuscular fatigue at the workplace.

PRACTITIONER SUMMARY

Cumulative fatigue has been linked to long-term health outcomes, including work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This paper presents findings from a physically demanding job (i.e. plumbing) revealing persistent fatigue over the work shift(s) and insufficient recovery after a weekend break, and provides insight into fatigue measurement at the workplace.

Overhead drilling: comparing three bases for aligning a drilling jig to vertical

PROBLEM

Drilling overhead into concrete or metal ceilings is a strenuous task done by construction workers to hang ductwork, piping, and electrical equipment. The task is associated with upper body pain and musculoskeletal disorders. Previously, we described a field usability evaluation of a foot lever and inverted drill press intervention devices that were compared to the usual method for overhead drilling. Both interventions were rated as inferior to the usual method based on poor setup time and mobility.

METHOD

Three new interventions, which differed on the design used for aligning the drilling column to vertical, were compared to the usual method for overhead drilling by commercial construction workers (n=16).

RESULTS

The usual method was associated with the highest levels of regional body fatigue and the poorest usability ratings when compared to the three interventions.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the 'Collar Base' intervention design received the best usability ratings.

IMPACT ON INDUSTRY

Intervention designs developed for overhead drilling may reduce shoulder fatigue and prevent subsequent musculoskeletal disorders. These designs may also be useful for other overhead work such as lifting and supporting materials (e.g., piping, ducts) that are installed near the ceiling. Workplace health and safety interventions may require multiple rounds of field-testing prior to achieving acceptable usability ratings by the end users.

Field evaluation of a modified intervention for overhead drilling

Drilling holes into concrete or metal ceilings is one of the most physically demanding tasks performed in construction. The work is done overhead with rotary impact hammer drills that weigh up to 40 N. The task is associated with pain and musculoskeletal disorders at the wrist, forearm, shoulder, and back. The mechanism of injury is thought to be the high forces and non-neutral shoulder and wrist postures applied during drilling. Previously, we described a field study of a foot lever and inverted drill press intervention devices that received poor usability ratings compared with the usual method for overhead drilling based on problems with mobility and productivity. Using a participatory intervention model, feedback from construction workers (N = 13) was used to develop a new intervention design that incorporated a wheeled tripod base and a unique method of aligning the drilling column to vertical. A different group of construction workers (N = 23) evaluated usability and fatigue of the new device during their regular overhead drilling in comparison with the usual method. Four of 12 usability ratings were significantly better with the intervention device compared with the usual method. Subjective shoulder fatigue was less with the new intervention (1.1 vs. 3.3; scale 0 to 5; p < 0.001). This difference was supported by objective outcome measures; the mean hand forces during drilling were 26 N with the intervention compared with 245 N with the usual method. The percentage of time with the shoulder flexed or abducted to more than 60 degrees was less with the intervention compared with the usual method (21 vs. 40%; p = 0.007). There was significantly less head extension with the intervention compared with the usual method. There were no significant differences in overall productivity between the two methods. This study demonstrates that a new intervention device for overhead drilling has improved usability and subjective fatigue ratings compared with the usual method. These improvements are most likely due to the reduced hand forces, reduced shoulder abduction and flexion, and reduced drilling time.