Development and Evaluation of a Questionnaire to Document Worker Exposures to Mechanical Loading at a Workplace Level

Abstract

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS Despite many biomechanical risk factors being clearly linked to the development of musculoskeletal disorders, little measurement of the prevalence of physical loads in workplaces is being conducted. Through a collaborative partnership with unions, a health and safety organization, and researchers, this project developed and tested a questionnaire to document exposures to physical workloads in workplaces. Surveys were first completed independently by two members of each organization's joint health and safety committee. The same survey was later completed collectively to arrive at a consensus between the two members. Results of the surveys were then compared to findings from a walk-through conducted by an ergonomist. Substantial to excellent agreement was found between the identification and assessment of exposure levels to 26 types of physical loading by the ergonomist and workplace. Such a survey could be an efficient technique to characterize the loads to which workers are exposed. Such data could have value for targeting prevention activities at a workplace or jurisdictional level.TECHNICAL ABSTRACT Background: The presence and level of exposure to mechanical risk factors can be considered leading indicators in the development of musculoskeletal disorders. Although there are multiple methods for musculoskeletal disorder risk assessment, most of these methods record data related to an individual person performing a specific task. Rather in this questionnaire, we are collecting the exposure data at the workplace level (i.e., for all people experiencing this type of load). Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop and test a survey to document the presence and levels of multiple types of physical loading in a workplace. Methods: A survey requesting information on exposure to 26 types of loading was developed. It was distributed to management and worker representatives for their individual and then their consensus ratings. The same survey was completed by an ergonomist during a site visit. Results: Complete data sets were obtained from 30 workplaces across a variety of sectors. The most prevalent loads reported were sitting, neck bent or twisted, computer use, and carrying loads. For the presence or absence of specific loads, the consensus and ergonomist's ratings agreed well with over 90% for nine of 26 load types and over 70% agreement for 10 other load types. For a calculated exposure index, only four load types differed significantly across the two types of raters. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that a survey completed by individuals familiar with the workplace could be used to document exposure to physical loading at a workplace level in an efficient manner. Such a survey may be useful in understanding the nature and prevalence of such exposures and targeting prevention activities at a workplace or jurisdictional level.

KEYWORDS:

• Musculoskeletal disorders
• physical loads
• ergonomics
• hazard identification
• risk assessment

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors wish to thank the following participating organizations: University of Waterloo, Institute of Work and Health, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, Communication Energy and Paper Workers, Canadian Auto Workers, United Steel Workers of America, Ontario Public Service Employees Union, United Food and Commercial Workers, Ontario Nurses Association, and Canadian Union of Public Employees. Thanks also go to the workers and managers in the many participating workplaces. Finally, the authors would like to thank Mr. Alec Farquhar for his support and at the early stages of this project.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

Supplemental online appendices showing the surveys to benchmark physical loads in Ontario workplaces (Appendix A: Consensus Book; Appendix B: Labour Book; Appendix C: Management Book) are available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21577323.2016.1179701.

Funding

This project was funded by a research grant provided by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario (09-019). The contents of this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario.

Notes

¹ In Ontario, any workplace with 20 or more workers must have a Joint Health and Safety Committee, which is required to meet regularly and address health and safety issues; management and labor share chairing responsibilities for the committee.