Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Bricklaying: A Symptom and Job Factors Survey and Guidelines for Improvements

Abstract

Workers in the construction trades experience high rates of injury and illness, including work-related musculoskeletal disorders. As the basis for formulating and implementing ergonomics changes to reduce musculoskeletal disorders among bricklayers, a questionnaire survey was conducted regarding work-related musculoskeletal disorders and the troublesome job factors which bricklayers perceived as contributing to those disorders. A two-page questionnaire was mailed out to all members of a Midwestern bricklayers union local. The responses of 39 nonretired bricklayers, having an average age of 45 and an average of 21.8 years of work experience, were analyzed. Results indicated that work-related symptomatic areas, and those accounting for the most reported lost work time and physician visits, were primarily back, neck, and shoulder, and secondarily, elbow and wrist/hand. The survey respondents consistently identified job factors describing awkward postures of the back and shoulder, and handling bricks and mortar in these awkward postures, as the leading causes of their work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The results of this study, along with reports of previous investigations, point to a number of important factors that must be addressed in order to reduce musculoskeletal disorders among bricklayers. These include brick supply and mortar locations, brick placement/scaffold height, brick weight and size, and rate and duration of work.