Review_C

Indeed, the construction industry is known for its occupational risks and hazards and the
associated adverse health effects – and this can be reflected on the numerous cases of fatalities,
injuries, and deaths recorded in this industry. Since the works in this industry significantly demands
physical force, workers are more vulnerable to risks. Particularly, construction workers are the main
personnel who suffer and experience physical health concern and safety problems in the construction
workplace. Traditional construction is still the most prevailing method used in the construction industry.
The traditional construction methods place the workers on awkward positions and expose them to
repetitive motions; consequently, resulting the workers on acquiring Musculoskeletal Disorders (MDSs)
gradually. MSDs are some of the costliest occupational problems, accounting for 32 percent of the
26,510 total annual lost time claims in construction, resulting in 72 million dollars in costs. In addition,
MSDs are the main cause of productivity loss at work, functional impairments, and permanent disability.

As mentioned, repetitive motion is one of the areas that ergonomics heavily focuses as these
actions are the root cause of multiple injury types. On the study of Boschman, J. S., et al (2012), they
selected 750 bricklayers to respond on the prepared baseline questionnaire and follow-up
questionnaire. The participants were asked about complaints of the musculoskeletal system during the
last six months, the perceived work-relatedness of the symptoms, the problems that occurred during
work and the occupational tasks that were perceived as causes or aggravating factors of the MSD. The
study came up with 37% baseline response, while 80% follow-up response. Among the 267 bricklayers,
the prevalence of MSDs was 67 %. Complaints of the back, knee, and shoulder/upper arm were the
most prevalent among the participants. Irrespective of the body region, most of the bricklayers assert
that their complaints were work-related. Physical tasks and activities are the perceived causes or
aggravating factors for the participants’ MSDs.

Likewise, awkward posture is one also of the ergonomic risks responsible in acquiring MSDs
among the construction workers. Awkward postures mean working with various parts of the body in
bent, extended or flexed positions rather than in a straight or neutral position. According to OSHA,
Working in awkward postures increases the exertion and muscle force that employees must apply to
complete a task and compresses tendons, nerves and blood vessels. When working posture differs from
the neutral posture n which the body is aligned and balanced while placing minimal stress on muscles,
tendons, nerves, and bones, the stress on the body parts increases; resulting in awkward postures
and/or movements of the body parts of the workers, in turn leading to a negative impact on the safety
and health of the workers as well as on productivity. The percentage of construction workers exposed to
the musculoskeletal hazards in Korea while carrying heavy loads, standing long, and maintaining tiring
and painful positions, is about 72%, 83.8%, and 67.9%, respectively.

Over the years, primary prevention has improved and the biomechanical load in several
physically demanding construction occupations has been reduced. Primary prevention is seen as the key
to eliminating work demands and reducing the risks of adverse health effects. However, results from
long-term follow-up studies do not show significant preventive effects for MSDs. Therefore, MSDs
among construction workers continue to be a problem. Recent results from Oude Hengel et al., showed
that in a population of currently working construction workers, more than half-suffered from occasional
or frequent musculoskeletal complaints. These complaints reduce the workers’ ability and willingness to
continue to remain in their job until retirement. To retain workers in the in the construction field, it is
essential to monitor these complaints, select potentially intervention measures, and prevent these
workers from further physical deterioration.

Boschman, J. S., et al. (2012). Musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers: a one-year follow-

up study. https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2474-13-196