Physiological responses, trunk posture, and work pace in commercial building cleaning in Washington State: An observational field study

Wonil Lee; Jia-Hua Lin; Ninica Howard; Stephen Bao

doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2023.05.013

Physiological responses, trunk posture, and work pace in commercial building cleaning in Washington State: An observational field study

J Safety Res. 2023 Sep:86:107-117. doi: 10.1016/j.jsr.2023.05.013. Epub 2023 May 26.

Authors

Wonil Lee¹, Jia-Hua Lin², Ninica Howard³, Stephen Bao⁴

Affiliations

¹ Ergonomist, Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Box 44330, Olympia, WA 98504, USA. Electronic address: lwon235@lni.wa.gov.
² Ergonomist, Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Box 44330, Olympia, WA 98504, USA. Electronic address: lija235@LNI.WA.GOV.
³ Ergonomist, Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Box 44330, Olympia, WA 98504, USA. Electronic address: HOWO235@LNI.WA.GOV.
⁴ Senior Epidemiologist, Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Box 44330, Olympia, WA 98504, USA. Electronic address: BAOS235@LNI.WA.GOV.

PMID: 37718037
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2023.05.013

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.

Keywords: Physiological responses; Time study; Trunk posture; Work pace; Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders.

Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Publication types

Observational Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Health Expenditures
Humans
Musculoskeletal Diseases* / epidemiology
Musculoskeletal Diseases* / etiology
Musculoskeletal Diseases* / prevention & control
Posture*
Records
Washington