Construction Activities as Onset for Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Construction Workers: Contractor’s Perspective
Ajayi, O.O.
Department of Architecture, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Corresponding E-mail: ooajayi@lautech.edu.ng
DOI: 10.36108/laujoces/9102/20(0190)
Abstract
The study assesses the impact of construction activities as a contributor for the onset of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in construction workers. There is high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMDs) which are associated with various construction actions. The paper identified nineteen various actions pertaining to unfavourable ergonomic practice as it results in the identified WMDs. A total of 140 copies of questionnaire were administered on randomly selected contractors out of which 83 was retrieved and found valid for this study and this constituted 59.3% of the sample size. The various activities were measured on a five-point Likert scale. Based on the percentage responses on a scale 1(minor) to 5(major) the overall mean scores were calculated. The actions were further subjected to Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) with performance (P) at 0.05 level of confidence to measure the significance difference in the rate of occurrence of various activities for the onset of WMDs. It was observed from the analysis that the actions are challenges to the construction industry as it results in WMDs which affects the productivity of workers and promote early retirement of construction workers. The study concluded that there is significant difference in the rate of occurrence of various actions as they result in WMDs. The study therefore recommends the need for awareness and amplifies the value of improving knowledge for ergonomics in construction and promotes the concept of design for construction ergonomics.
Keywords: Work related disorder, construction activities, actions, ergonomics