Low Back Pain Among Residential Carpenters: Ergonomic Evaluation Using OWAS and 2D Compression Estimation |
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| Authors: | David P Gilkey Thomas J Keefe Philip L Bigelow Robin E Herron Kirby Duvall Jacob E Hautaluoma |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, USAdgilkey@colostate.edu;3. Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, USA;4. Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada;5. Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, USA |
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| Abstract: | Occupational low back pain (LBP) remains a leading safety and health challenge. This cross-sectional investigation measured the prevalence of LBP in residential carpenters and investigated ergonomic risk factors. Ninety-four carpenters were investigated for LBP presence and associated risk factors. Ten representative job-tasks were evaluated using the Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS) and ErgoMaster? 2D software to measure elements of posture, stress, and risk. Job-tasks were found to differ significantly for total lumbar compression and shear at peak loading (p < .001), ranging from 2 956 to 8 606 N and 802 to 1 974 N respectively. OWAS indicated that slight risk for injury was found in 10 job-tasks while distinct risk was found in 7 of the 10 job-tasks. Seven of the 10 job-tasks exceeded the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) action limit of 3 400 N for low back loading. The point prevalence for LBP was 14% while the annual prevalence was 38%. |
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| Keywords: | low back pain prevalence lumbar compression ergonomic factors |
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