A new bricklayers' method for use in the construction industry

Area of Science:

• Occupational health and safety
• Ergonomics in construction
• Musculoskeletal disorder prevention

Background:

• Bricklaying is physically demanding, often leading to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and sickness absence.
• Ergonomic interventions are crucial for improving worker well-being in the construction industry.
• Limited research exists on controlled intervention studies for ergonomic improvements in construction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of raised bricklaying systems on bricklayers' physical workload.
• To assess the effect of raised bricklaying on reported musculoskeletal disorders.
• To determine the influence on sickness absence and job satisfaction among construction workers.

Main Methods:

• A 10-month controlled intervention study involving 202 bricklayers across 25 construction companies.
• Implementation of raised bricklaying devices as the primary intervention.
• Data collection on physical workload, MSDs, sickness absence, and job satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Raised bricklaying devices reduced physical load on the lower back, shoulders, and upper extremities.
• Trunk bending was reduced, lowering biomechanical moments, though the number of lifts remained unchanged.
• No significant decrease in reported musculoskeletal symptoms was observed, but sickness absence was significantly lower in the intervention group.
• Bricklayers reported high satisfaction with the raised bricklaying devices.

Conclusions:

• Ergonomic improvements, such as raised bricklaying, can effectively reduce physical load in the construction industry.
• The adoption of such ergonomic interventions may lead to a decrease in sickness absence rates.
• Further controlled intervention studies are needed to validate ergonomic improvements in construction settings.