AN ERGONOMIC CHARACTERIZATION OF WORK IN CONCRETE FORM CONSTRUCTION

Concrete formwork construction was identified as the area of greatest ergonomic risk in unionized carpentry by both managers and unionized c arpenters. Ergonomic risks were identified and characterized using (a) 1220 randomized work samples from videotape, (b) 82 worker discomfort surveys (c) on-site observation,and (d) labor-management focus group discussions. Results showed that carpenters spent over 40% of the day in a forward torso flexion posture and over one-third of the day worki ng at or below knee level. Hammering was the single most frequently pe rformed activity at approximately 17% of the day. The body location wi th the highest reported prevalence of symptomatic disorders was the lo wer back at 48% followed by the forearms/wrist at 37%. It was conclude d that carpenters are exposed to significant hazards in formwork const ruction, and that opportunities exist for the implementation of ergono mic interventions.