CPWR Reports

John Gambatese and Ziyu Jin. 2021.
This Small Study investigated the differences in work tasks and activities for different types of formwork systems, assessed MSD risks associated with different types of formwork systems, and suggested methods for preventing MSDs among form workers.

Terry L. Stentz, Changbum R. Ahn, Kelli R. Herstein, and Zahra Jabbarani Torghabeh. 2019.
Construction glass and glazing (CGG) workers have high rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). For this study, the researchers conducted interviews with CGG workers and worksite observations to identify problems leading to the higher rates of WRMSDs and to gather information about improvements that are needed to lower the risk for injury. CGG job tasks were classified in five categories, and ergonomic task-based estimates were done using the Posture, Activity, Tools, and Handling (PATH) method. The CGG workers’ level of risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries was scaled using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method. The results of this study provided a baseline database for future evaluations of ergonomic interventions to reduce CGG workers’ risk for injury.

Edward L. Taylor, John Moore, Thomas Cressler, John Wagner, and Terry Higgins. April 2019.
The inflated risk of injury for new employees in construction and other industries is well documented; however, less is known about the character and timing of those injuries. To fill this knowledge gap, this study analyzed 9,000 workers’ compensation claims from the state of Tennessee having dates of injury in 2014 and 2015 to compare the characteristics of early tenure (i.e., less than or equal to 1 year with an employer) construction injuries with all construction injuries.  The analyses examined the proportion of these early tenure injuries in various dimensions including age, employer size, the severity, type and cause of injury, and the body part injured.

Lu Yuan, Sc.D. 2013
This research study validated that workers installing drywall are at a high risk of MSDs, especially to low back and shoulders. Researchers used an integrated biomechanical modeling approach to investigate the effects of position and size of drywall on the physical demands for drywall installers. The results: drywall storage position and size affect the physical demand of the work and may contribute to injury.

Boatman, Laura, Debra Chaplan, Suzanne Teran. May 2012

Koningsveld, Ernst A.P., Peter Vink, Isle J.M. Urlings, and Annelise M. de Jong. 1998
Describes six steps for setting up a worker-participation program to identify main ergonomic problems, then propose and try solutions; examples are given for scaffold erection, based on a research project in the Netherlands.