Prevention of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in construction industry

Abstract

Many construction work tasks are physically very strenuous, and the incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among construction workers is considerably higher than that in most other occupations. The aim of the research project presented in this paper was to contribute to an understanding of a healthy construction workplace brought about by the best practices implemented by large construction sites. From a preventive perspective, a model for the construction workplace system balance was used to identify the successful strategies. To identify the successful strategies in the Swedish industry to prevent WMSDs, several construction projects were investigated through interviews, site observations and company’s documents study. In every construction project, six areas, (i.e., planning, technology used, work organisation, physical work environment, work tasks and the individual worker) of the construction workplace system balance were investigated. Numerous successful strategies both in pre-production and production phases of construction projects were identified in the six different areas of the construction workplace system balance; however there seems to be a significant need for good practices in the systematic work environment management. Further, the implications of some remuneration methods on the production schedule were perceived as detrimental to musculoskeletal health of construction workers.