The association between janitor physical workload, mental workload, and stress: The SWEEP study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Schwartz, Adam^a | Gerberich, Susan Goodwin^{a; *} | Albin, Thomas^b | Kim, Hyun^a | Ryan, Andrew D.^a | Church, Timothy R.^a | Green, Deirdre R.^a | McGovern, Patricia M.^a | Erdman, Arthur G.^a | Arauz, Rony F.^a

Affiliations: [a] Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety Education and Research Center, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA | [b] High Plains Engineering Services, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Susan Goodwin Gerberich, PhD, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1156 Mayo Memorial Building, 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC –807, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. Tel.: +1 612 625 5934; Fax: +1 612 626 1487; E-mail: gerbe001@umn.edu.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Approximately 2.38 million janitors are employed in the U.S. While high physical workload may explain a lost-work days rate 2.7 times greater than other occupations, little is known about the association between janitors’ physical workload, mental workload, and stress. OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to assess the associations between physical (ergonomic) and mental workload exposures and stress outcomes among janitors. METHODS:Questionnaire data, focused on ergonomic workload, mental workload and stress, were collected from Minnesota janitors for a one-year period. Physical workload was assessed with Borg Scales and Rapid Entire Body Assessments (REBA). Mental workload assessment utilized the NASA Task Load Index (TLX). Stress assessments utilized single-item ordinal stress scale (SISS) and Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4) measures. Descriptive and multivariable analyses, including bias adjustment, were conducted. RESULTS:Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for ergonomic workload (task frequency) effects on SISS were: REBA (1.18 OR, 1.02–1.37 CI); Borg (1.25 OR, 1.00–1.56 CI); combined REBA and Borg (1.10 OR, 1.01–1.20 CI). Mental workload was associated with higher PSS-4 levels (0.15 Mean Difference, 0.08–0.22 CI) and a 3% increased risk for each one-unit increase in the SISS scale (1.03 OR, 1.02–1.05 CI). CONCLUSIONS:This research demonstrated a moderate effect of physical and mental workloads on stress among janitors.

Keywords: Ergonomics, injury epidemiology, NASA TLX, Perceived Stress Scale

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203135

Journal: Work, vol. 65, no. 4, pp. 837-846, 2020