1
|
Lee W, Lin JH, Howard N, Bao S. Physiological responses, trunk posture, and work pace in commercial building cleaning in Washington State: An observational field study. JOURNAL OF SAFETY RESEARCH 2023; 86:107-117. [PMID: 37718037 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2023.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study aimed to investigate whether work pace is a critical indicator for predicting a janitor's risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). METHOD Field measurements were obtained from commercial building janitors as well as the determination of work pace. Physiological responses collected were heart rate, energy expenditure (calories), activity level (METs), steps, trunk posture. Data were obtained using direct measurements, along with a time study, which was performed by shadowing 13 janitors in Washington State. The measured values were summarized descriptively, and five of the most common janitorial tasks were compared. The relationships between work pace and the physiological response variables were determined by calculating the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. RESULTS The highest average percent heart rate reserve (47.4%) was reported during restroom cleaning, while the highest activity and energy expenditure levels (3.6 METs and 217.1 calories/h) were reported for mopping. The top 90% of trunk flexion angles and the highest percentage of time in trunk flexion from 20° to 60° were recorded during restroom cleaning. Restroom cleaning showed the highest correlation between all the physiological response variables and work pace. In most of the tasks, a high work pace may have increased the degree and duration of severe trunk flexion. CONCLUSION Overall, when several tasks were considered, the extent of physiological responses, trunk joint angles, and exposure time to awkward postures tended to increase with an increase in work pace. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This study showed the feasibility of using the work pace measured from time studies as a predictive indicator of WMSDs risks. Using this information, managers may compose a schedule that can minimize WMSDs risks while considering actual work pace deviations that may impact a janitor's ability to complete assigned tasks properly within a shift.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wonil Lee
- Ergonomist, Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Box 44330, Olympia, WA 98504, USA.
| | - Jia-Hua Lin
- Ergonomist, Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Box 44330, Olympia, WA 98504, USA.
| | - Ninica Howard
- Ergonomist, Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Box 44330, Olympia, WA 98504, USA.
| | - Stephen Bao
- Senior Epidemiologist, Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Box 44330, Olympia, WA 98504, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Brazil CK, Pottorff TA, Miller M, Rys MJ. Using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment to examine the effect of the new Hotel Housekeeping California Standard. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2023; 106:103868. [PMID: 36049446 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
A housekeeper's job includes a variety of repetitive and strenuous tasks, which can put workers at high risk for musculoskeletal disorders. In 2018, a new standard was implemented in California aiming to prevent work-related injuries of hospitality industry workers. This paper assesses California housekeepers performing regular work tasks during their shifts from 2018 to 2020. Rapid Upper Limb Assessments (RULA) after the standard was implemented found average right-arm scores for scrubbing tasks (M = 6.93, SD = 0.00), vacuuming (M = 6.27, SD = 0.45), and trash-collecting (M = 4.48, SD = 0.50). Forces to move housekeeping carts were also evaluated, with 98% of pushing forces and 73% of turning forces observed within the accepted range. Results show that RULA scores remain high even after the implementation of the standard, with improvements only seen in tasks that required just changing of the method.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristiane K Brazil
- Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Kansas State University, 1701B Platt St., Manhattan, KS, 66506, United States.
| | - Timothy A Pottorff
- QP3 ErgoSystems, 2926 Carrington Court, West Dundee, IL, 60118, United States.
| | - Merl Miller
- Performance Ergonomics, 2454 E. Glencove Street, Mesa, AZ, 85213, United States.
| | - Malgorzata J Rys
- Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Kansas State University, 1701B Platt St., Manhattan, KS, 66506, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bagherifard F, Daneshmandi H, Ziaei M, Ghaem H, Khoshbakht R, Jaberi O, Choobineh A. Comparison of physical workload and physical work capacity among municipality cleaners in Shiraz to determine number of workers needed to counterbalance physical workload. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2022; 14:85. [PMID: 35526069 PMCID: PMC9080208 DOI: 10.1186/s13102-022-00476-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background Assessing physical workload is the most important step in deciding whether a workload is high and adopting appropriate control strategies to reduce physical workload. This study aimed to compare physical workload and Physical Work Capacity (PWC) among municipality cleaners in Shiraz to determine the number of workers needed to counterbalance physical workload. Methods The present cross-sectional study was performed on 97 municipality cleaners in Shiraz. In the first step, the participants' maximum aerobic capacity (VO2-max) was estimated in the laboratory using an ergometer bicycle and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) protocol, based on which the PWC was estimated. Secondly, energy expenditure and heart rate during work were measured using a POLAR400 device in an eight-hour shift. At the end of the work shift, the workers’ perceived physical exertion was assessed using a Rating of Perceived Exertion 6–20 (RPE 6–20) Borg scale. In the final stage, the physical workload was assessed based on the results of the two steps. Results The mean VO2-max of the cleaners and PWC were estimated to be 2.6 ± 0.66 l min−1 and 4.3 ± 1.088 kcal min−1, respectively. The average energy consumed during work was 4.122 ± 1.016 kcal min−1. The overall results of this study showed that physical workload was greater than PWC in 46% of the municipality cleaners. In addition, it was found that 12.45% workforce was required to be added to the street cleaners of Shiraz municipality to reduce the physiological workload on the employed workforce. Conclusions With respect to the high level of physical activity in a significant proportion of the cleaners, measures such as increasing the workforce are suggested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farnaz Bagherifard
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hadi Daneshmandi
- Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, PO Box: 71645-111, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mansour Ziaei
- School of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Haleh Ghaem
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ruhollah Khoshbakht
- Health and Safety Executive Unit, Shiraz Waste Management Organization, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Omid Jaberi
- Health and Safety Executive Unit, Shiraz Waste Management Organization, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Alireza Choobineh
- Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, PO Box: 71645-111, Shiraz, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Brückner U, Laux S, Schneider-Lauteren S, Schneider J. Excessing Energy Expenditure in Female Healthcare Workers in a University Hospital. Ann Work Expo Health 2021; 66:89-101. [PMID: 34314496 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxab054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The assessment of energy expenditure (EE) at workplaces maintains a central topic in occupational health due to increasing work-related issues. Today 80% of employees in the healthcare system are women. Limited research concerning their physical activity at work is available. The purpose of the study was the investigation of body composition, maximum physical capacity and quantification of physical work activity for female healthcare workers under real-time conditions. METHODS Occupational physical activity (PA) of 33 female healthcare workers in a university hospital was quantified. Health associate professionals (HAP), health professionals (HP), and females working from cleaners and helpers (CH) department participated. All underwent cardio pulmonary exercise test. For every working task VO2, VCO2 and RER were measured and EE was calculated individually for each task. RESULTS Forty-two different working tasks were identified and grouped in seven categories to compare physical activity (PA): 'office and laboratory work', 'bedside patient care', 'instrument reprocessing, packing boxes', 'walking with patient, or alone', 'pushing carts or wheelchairs', 'strenuous cleaning in bent posture' and 'lifting heavy boxes, weights or items'. By comparing groups of healthcare workers, CH and HAP spent significant (p < 0.01) more EE (in kcal/min) 3.9 resp. 3.2 than HP 2.5. Light PA e.g. office and laboratory work (2.7 ± 0.6) and bedside patient care (2.9 ± 0.7) were accomplished by HP and HAP while HAP and CH performed moderate PA such as 'packing boxes' (3.6 ± 0.8), 'pushing carts' and 'strenuous cleaning' (4.7 ± 0.9). Work performed by CH and HAP, i.e. 'strenuous cleaning' and 'lifting heavy items' showed highest kcal per kg Fat Free Mass (FFM) per hour with 5.80 [4.05-7.81] and 6.94 [5.18-9.03] kcal/kgFFM/h. CONCLUSION Our findings lend preliminary support to the hypothesis that the majority of activities in female healthcare workers were of low and moderate PA and can be accomplished by middle aged and even older female workers. CH performed tasks with heavy physical activities (PA) like cleaning and lifting heavy weights. HAP performed light/moderate PA below their maximum physical capacity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Brückner
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Social Medicine University Hospital Gießen, Aulweg 129, 35392 Gießen, Germany
| | - Sandra Laux
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Social Medicine University Hospital Gießen, Aulweg 129, 35392 Gießen, Germany
| | - Stephanie Schneider-Lauteren
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Social Medicine University Hospital Gießen, Aulweg 129, 35392 Gießen, Germany
| | - Joachim Schneider
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Social Medicine University Hospital Gießen, Aulweg 129, 35392 Gießen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Petru R, Ochmann U, Nowak D. Letter to the editors referring to Fikenzer, S., Uhe, T., Lavall, D., Rudolph, U., Falz, R., Busse, M., Hepp, P., & Laufs, U. (2020). Effects of surgical and FFP2/N95 face masks on cardiopulmonary exercise capacity. Clinical Research in Cardiology. Clin Res Cardiol 2020; 109:1598-1599. [PMID: 32965557 DOI: 10.1007/s00392-020-01735-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Raluca Petru
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital Munich, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) Munich, Member, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany.
| | - Uta Ochmann
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital Munich, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) Munich, Member, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Dennis Nowak
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital Munich, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) Munich, Member, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Schneider J, Brückner U, Laux S, Schneider-Lauteren S. Physical effort of middle-aged women in a university hospital - Field tests in comparison to standardized cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 2020; 76:210-219. [PMID: 32744475 DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2020.1799181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Physical effort of workload of female employees in the healthcare system is perceived to rise. Research focused mainly on physical activity levels of registered nurses (RN). Therefore, we investigated physical strain during daily routine of other hospital workers next to RN. O2uptake, heart rate, breathing frequency and ventilation were measured in 33 female medical (associate) professionals (MAP) and Cleaners&Helpers (Cl&H) using Oxycon Mobile. Physical work load was compared to standardized CPET. Wilcoxon-test and ANOVA were calculated using SPSS 20.0. Cl&H performed heavy-lifting and had the lowest power during CPET. The O2-uptake for heavy-lifting as strong effort, differed significantly from office work (p < 0.001) and bedside-patient-care (p = 0.001). Compared with metabolic equivalent (MET) cleaning, heavy-lifting, and office work are underestimated. Bedside-patient-care, walking, pushing performed by MAP are overestimated. While Cl&H had the lowest maximal power in CPET, their work required the highest O2-uptake. The tasks are underestimated in the MET-tables.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Schneider
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Social Medicine, University Hospital, Gießen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Brückner
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Social Medicine, University Hospital, Gießen, Germany
| | - Sandra Laux
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Social Medicine, University Hospital, Gießen, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|