1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ergonomics must be integrated into a construction safety program to reduce the risks associated with musculoskeletal disorders. There is little guidance available on how ergonomics may be added to safety programs nor on the effectiveness of the additional ergonomic activities to reducing risks related to ergonomic exposures over time. This study illustrated the programmatic change process of adapting ergonomic activities into an existing safety management system of a single contractor, and the change in leading indicators, worker awareness, and observed behaviors over a 1.5 year period after delivering the revised program. The results showed improvement in worker awareness and in the leading indicators for attendance and number of trainings, discussion about ergonomics in safety meetings, and the frequency of identification of ergonomic hazards and controls on worker assessments and on management audits. These leading indicators provided information at interim points in time to indicate the need for additional programmatic changes. During this study, there was little change in observed behaviors. Integrating ergonomics into safety programs requires time and resources and change in work exposures occurs gradually over time.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021 - Sector Based Ergonomics
EditorsNancy L. Black, W. Patrick Neumann, Ian Noy
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages303-308
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)9783030746070
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Event 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: Jun 13 2021Jun 18 2021

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Networks and Systems
Volume221 LNNS
ISSN (Print)2367-3370
ISSN (Electronic)2367-3389

Conference

Conference 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period06/13/2106/18/21

Keywords

  • Injury prevention
  • Leading indicators
  • Musculoskeletal disorders
  • Safety programs
  • Worker

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