Construction Has High Rate of Musculoskeletal Claims
(Taken
from Impact Volume XVI, No. 1 May 1998)
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Michael
McCann
CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training
Construction workers have some of the highest risks for sprain-and-strain
injuries. That is the conclusion of a new analysis of Washington state
workers' compensation data from 1989-96 by Barbara Silverstein and John
Kalat of Washington state SHARP (Safety and Health Assessment and Research
for Prevention). The authors ranked "industries," based on the
rate of work-related injuries to the back or upper extremities Ñ
hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, or neck. The focus was on injuries that develop
slowly.
The authors set up a "prevention index," ranking the number
and rate of claims for each problem by industry for the 8 years studied.
Trades with a lot of heavy-materials handling or repetitive work were
most at risk, the report says. For back injuries, 9 of the 16 riskiest
industries were in construction.
Wood-frame building construction is one of the highest-risk industries,
landing in the top 10 for most disorders. Roofing and wallboard installation
are also high-risk for many disorders. Other high-risk trades for some
disorders included boilermaking, concrete, electrical wiring, HVAC (heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning), insulation installation, masonry,
painting, plumbing, road construction.
Based on average payments, the researchers estimate the national costs
for claims for gradual-onset low-back injuries (for all industries) at
about $16.8 billion a year, with another $6.7 billion for upper-extremity
claims.
The report, Work-Related Disorders of the Back and Upper Extremity
in Washington State, 1989-1996, technical report 40-1-1997), is free
from SHARP at 360-902-5669 or 5672(fax).
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