Information on this page is drawn from "Proceedings of a Meeting to Explore the use of Ergonomics Interventions for the Mechanical and Electrical Trades" published by NIOSH
Bureau of Labor Statistics Data
The BLS SOII estimates the occurrence of work-related injuries and illnesses in the United States, using data from employers' records. Injury and illness cases are described by the following Code Titles: Nature of Injury or Illness, Part of Body Affected, Source of Injury or Illness, and Event or Exposure (BLS 2001).
The SOII does not have a specific classification for WMSDs, but the information about these cases can be derived from the survey by using two or more code titles. The BLS combines the Nature of Injury or Illness and the Event or Exposure code titles to represent WMSD cases. According to the BLS (2002b), musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs):
...include cases where the nature of injury is: sprains, strains, tears; back pain, hurt back; soreness, pain, hurt, except back; carpal tunnel syndrome; hernia; or musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases and disorders; and when the event or exposure leading to the injury or illness is: bodily reaction/bending, climbing, crawling, reaching, twisting; overexertion; or repetition. Cases of Raynaud's phenomenon, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and herniated spinal discs are not included. Although these cases may be considered WMSDs, the survey classifies these cases in categories that also include non-WMSD cases.
Incidence rates for construction workers' back and upper- and lower-extremities
WMSDs exceed the national all-industries average (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 1997). Construction workers' rates of injuries and illnesses due to bodily reaction and overexertion consistently exceeded those in all private industries during the years 1994 to 2000 (Table 1). Within the construction industry, the Special Trades Contractors (Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 17)), which is the largest sector in the industry, usually reports higher rates of overexertion and repetitive motion injuries than does General Building Contractors (SIC 15) or Heavy Construction Contractors (SIC 16) (Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 2003). Repetitive motion injury cases among construction workers have historically been low, as seen by comparing Tables 2 and 3 (BLS 2002c). One recent article report found that few apprentices seek medical attention for hand symptoms characteristic of CTS, suggesting that under-reporting of CTS is common in the construction industry (Rosecrance et al. 2002a). Unfortunately, injuries and illnesses due to bodily reaction (e.g., bending, climbing, crawling, reaching, twisting) are not counted separately in the BLS annual profile summary tables of nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving DAW by selected worker and case characteristics and industry.
