CPWR — The Center for Construction Research and Training: Research: A Decade of Progress

a world leader in improving the safety and health of construction workers

Researchers investigating Masonry Ergonomics Solutions focused much of their work on interventions to reduce back pain and injury. Current research projects are:

Two-mason lift teams

Using H-block with rebar

AAC vs. traditional CMUs

Use of light-weight block

Researchers: Laura Welch, MD, CPWR; Dan Anton, PT, PhD, Eastern Washington University; Jennifer Hess, DC, PhD, MPH, University of Oregon
Partners: International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, University of Iowa, University of Eastern Washington

Published articles in peer-reviewed journals:[Insert article links here]

New video demonstrates lift technique and its benefits

The masonry industry has the highest rate of back injuries and illnesses with days away from work in the construction industry, according to The Construction Chart Book, fourth edition. In fact, 70% of working masons reported on-going back pain, according to recent studies. Primary risk factors for lower back injury are the weight of bricks or blocks, the frequency of lifting, the height from which the block is picked up, the height at which the block is placed, the height of the mortar stand, the distance of the block from the worker's body, and degree and frequency of twisting involved.

Researchers sought to identify gaps in existing data on specific interventions and document the effectiveness of specific interventions in their investigations. Dan Anton, PhD, Jennifer Hess, PhD, and assisting researchers in three universities compared masons lifting 12” block individually to two-mason lift teams and found that lift teams put less stress on a worker’s lower back.

Go to Key Findings

Methods

Results

Conclusions/Key Findings

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