Affiliations: [a] College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan | [b] Environmental Health and Safety Department, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Madiha Ijaz, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: Madihab65@gmail.com.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The construction of buildings is risky for workers’ musculoskeleton. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to calculate the significance of risk associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. METHOD: 600 workers from 20 construction sites were surveyed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (modified) and their performance was assessed at seven construction-tasks using RULA and REBA sheets. SPSS v. 26 and R programming were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean value of workers’ age was 28.4381 years, with 8.8205 working months/year and 65USDs monthly earnings. Maximum reporting of body discomfort was by workers of window/door framing. Workers’ BMI (35–44 kg/m2) and break duration (< 15 minutes) prompted neck pain with OR 7.79 (95% CI 1.135-53.587) and OR 1.179 (95%CI 0.231–6.014) respectively. Bagging was dangerous for the ankle with OR 9.881 (95% CI 5.140–18.994), and window/door framing for feet with OR 2.057 (95% CI 1.196–3.539). The mean value of the RULA grand score ranged from 5.89 (lowest for ‘leveling’) to 9.25 (highest for ‘demolishing’), and the REBA sheet between 8–11 for all seven studied work-stages. CONCLUSION: Workers’ upper and lower limbs are affected by the work-stages they perform and the social lifestyle they live in. These findings from 600 workers are sufficient to be generalized for intervention.
