The Influence of Work Organization in the Correct
Postures Maintenance in Civil Construction Tasks
(The following information has been abstracted from a paper
submitted to the 2nd International Symposium on Ergonomics in Building
and Construction, IEA, August 2000) |
|
José
Adelino Krüger,
M. Eng.
Tel 55 (042) 220-3074
E-mail: jakruger@convoy.com.br
Glaycon Michels,
Dr. Carla Fabiana Ribas, Esp. Carlos Mendes Fontes Neto, Esp. José Ademir
Uczak, Esp. Luciana Mara Cardon Neiverth, Esp.
Civil construction presents a variety of occupations, which are necessary
to the execution of a significant diversity of tasks. To the execution
of those tasks by the workers, it is necessary in most cases the maintenance
of aggressive postures, as well as the handling and the transport of high
loads. The intense physical efforts cause important physiologic reactions
in the workers' musculoskeletal system. Even if the improvement of the
work conditions is desired, with the decrease of the physical efforts,
in fact it is verified that in most cases there is not a way to modify
the execution of the tasks. The human intervention in heavy materials
handling and moving implies in physical suffering, and it can result in
physical disorders. The workers ignore basic rules for weights rising
in a correct way. The same way, they are not guided to maintain a correct
posture. A case study was accomplished in five building sites in Ponta
Grossa City, Paraná State, south of Brazil, where the usual type
of construction is executed in reinforced concrete structure and masonry
walls. Some occupations were analyzed, and it was verified a repetition
of incorrect postures, which in most cases are unchangeable, because of
the own characteristic of the tasks. The occurrence of repetitive movements
was verified, as well as the handling and transport of heavy materials,
works in a standing position, curved or twisted back, inclined head, and
works with the arms above the head. But the main concern of the study
was the verification of some fortuitous services. In the execution of
small finishing services in higher places than the worker can reach with
the extended arms, most of the workers do their jobs over improvised supports,
which were obtained in the own site, as for example benches, small wood
boxes, or any other object that is enough to supply a momentary need.
These supports are uncomfortable and cause an unbalance feeling. The correct
adaptation of the support is not observed, originating a potential risk
of accidents. The scaffolds in most of the cases were not also sufficiently
stable nor rigid, nor they presented the appropriate height or the necessary
dimensions. This way, the worker needed to maintain the attention on the
work and also on a strange factor: the fragility of the support, which
also causes a psychic solicitation. The support movement can still cause
an additional muscular stretching. Looking for the work safety, it is
necessary to seek a stable support, which will provide the best body position,
related to the work that will be done. The scaffolds should also have
the appropriate height and the correct dimensions in order to cover the
working area.
As a conclusion
of this case study, it was verified that the work organization is essential
and it is an initial step to the maintenance of correct postures, because
it will provide the necessary equipment to the work and it will avoid
the verified improvisation.
This paper appears in the eLCOSH website with the permission of the author
and/or copyright holder and may not be reproduced without their consent.
eLCOSH is an information clearinghouse. eLCOSH and its sponsors are not
responsible for the accuracy of information provided on this web site,
nor for its use or misuse.
eLCOSH
| CDC | NIOSH
| Site Map | Search
| Links | Help
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy
|