Technological Intervention to Eliminate Back Injury Risks for Nailing
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 127, Issue 3
Abstract
“Ergonomics” is derived from the Greek words “ergon,” meaning work, and “nomos,” meaning natural laws. Thus, one can interpret ergonomics as the “natural laws of work.” As documented in the literature, ergonomics has long been ignored by management and workers in construction alike. Unfortunately, a sore back in the evening is not always the effect of healthy hard work at the jobsite made apparent by the staggering cost of workers' compensation. Occupational back injuries result in more lost workdays than any other illness, secondly only to the common cold. In addition, manufacturers of construction tools have started to redesign their products because of liability concerns. This paper describes an effort that considers the health epidemic of back injuries as an opportunity. The basic premise is to apply the “natural laws of work” in a scientific manner to reach and treat the root of the problem and not its symptoms. Pneumatic nailing of subfloors is used to explain that back pain and the risk of back injuries for the average construction worker can be decreased, while at the same time maintaining short-term productivity and increasing long-term productivity.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 127 • Issue 3 • June 2001
Pages: 245 - 250
History
Received: Aug 8, 2000
Published online: Jun 1, 2001
Published in print: Jun 2001
Authors
Metrics & Citations
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