CONSTRUCTION WORK AND LOW-BACK DISORDER - PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF THEHAMBURG CONSTRUCTION WORKER STUDY

Study Design. Cross-sectional part of a longitudinal study in 571 male construction workers. Objectives. The Hamburg construction worker stu dy is being conducted to assess the extent of musculoskeletal disorder s in construction workers and factors predisposing for or leading to m usculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this analysis is to report fi ndings about the association between job history and low back disorder . Summary of Background Data. Repetitive strain in forced positions du ring long periods of time has been reported as a risk factor for low b ack disorder. Of all construction workers, bricklayers predominantly a re exposed to these conditions. Methods. Subjects were recruited mainl y from a routine health check-up. A structured interview with complete job history, job related activities, and symptoms was administered, a nd a detailed standardized physical examination was performed. Age-adj usted prevalences of low back pain were calculated, and logistic regre ssion models were used to estimate odds ratios and their confidence in tervals for different durations of working in a specific job category and physical signs of low back disorder, adjusting for a variety of po ssible confounders. Results. The 12-month prevalence of low back pain was highest in painters (57%), intermediate in concrete builders and, bricklayers (41%), and lowest in carpenters and unskilled workers (38% ). The age-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of low back d isorder for having worked longer than 10 years as a bricklayer was 2.3 (1.2-4.5). Conclusions. Working longer than 10 years as a bricklayer was associated with signs of low back disorder. No comparable associat ions were found for house painters, carpenters, nor concrete builders. If replicated,these findings could be used to focus preventive measur es on bricklayers with a long job history.