MUSCULOSKELETAL SYMPTOMS AMONG ELECTRICIANS

This study ascertained the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms among electricians, in order to evaluate the prevalence of cumulative trauma disorders (CTD) in this population. We adapted the CTD surveillance q uestionnaire used by National Institute for Occupational Safety and He alth (NIOSH) to assess the prevalence of neck, shoulder, elbow, hand/w rist, back, and knee symptoms in-the year prior to the survey. Questio nnaires were completed by 308 apprentices and journeymen enrolled in t raining classes at the local union hall. The participants were relativ ely young individuals, and 86% of the participants were currently work ing as electricians. Participants reported a high prevalence of sympto ms which occurred more than three times during the past year or which lasted more than I week. Back symptoms and hand/wrist symptoms were ex perienced most frequently, by about half the population, while elbow s ymptoms were reported by only 15% of participants. Symptom prevalence was lower, but still notable, when defined as symptoms which had occur red at least once a month or lasted more than a week in the past year. Eighty-two percent of participants reported at least one musculoskele tal symptom using the most inclusive definition, while 57% reported tw o or more symptoms. This survey highlights that: 1) low back discomfor t is common in young construction workers, and resulted in medical car e, missed work, or light duty for almost 35% of the participants; 2) n eck discomfort is also very common and required doctor visits or work modification for almost one quarter of the participants; 3) these cons truction workers continued to work with symptoms that are classifiable as a CTD; and 4) history of injury is correlated with the subsequent prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.