Operating Engineers: Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Trade

Abstract

Construction is among the leading industries in work-related injuries and workers' compensation costs. Among the construction trades, operating engineers are exposed to unique job-related musculoskeletal demands. Their environmental stressors tend to be more postural and sustained in nature when compared with other construction trades. To reduce the incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMDs) and associated compensation costs, an evaluation of the operating engineers' trade was performed. Questionnaires were mailed to 1075 members of an operating engineers' local union. 410 members responded to the symptom and job factors questionnaire. Analysis of the responses identified a lower rate of self-reported symptoms among operating engineers when compared with other construction trades. Within their trade, operating engineers reported the greatest incidence of symptoms, physician visits, and missed work related to the low back, neck, and shoulder regions. The job factors reported to contribute the most to WMDs included prolonged time in the same posture, awkward trunk postures, environmental conditions, and continuing to work when injured or hurt. The uniqueness of the operating engineer's trade relative to other construction trades provides different opportunities for intervention strategies. Operating engineers spend nearly all of their time in a work environment designed by the equipment manufacturer. This allows for working environment interventions to be made by the manufacturer and circumvents some of the less-effective methods of ergonomic intervention such as education and peer accountability. The results of the survey suggest that recent changes in equipment design have aided in a reduction in musculoskeletal complaints among operating engineers. Therefore, based on the findings of this investigation, acquisition of new equipment and continued changes in the ergonomics of equipment appear to be a primary method of intervention when attempting to reduce WMDs among operating engineers.