Low back strain in Danish semi-skilled construction work.

Danish semi-skilled construction workers (SC-workers) perform a variety of tasks in building construction, civil engineering and rebuilding. A previous epidemiologic study indicated a high occurrence of low back pain (LBP) among these workers. The study was designed to quantify the major occupational risk factors associated with the development of LBP, i e, inclined postures, repetitive movements, heavy lifts, pushing/pulling motions, sudden unexpected strains and whole body vibrations in this group of construction workers. Firstly a study of occupational activity of 112 SC-workers on height construction sites during two separate five-days periods was carried out. This was followed by an observational study of the nine work tasks most common to SC-workers. Heavy lifts, pushing/pulling motions and sudden unexpected strain occurred most frequently in the work, while inclined postures, repetitive movements and whole body vibrations characterised different parts of the work. Assessments of the strain were made on the basis of techniques given in the literature.

The incidence of disability pensions and mortality among semi-skilled construction workers in Copenhagen. A retrospective cohort study with two control groups.

The aim of the present study was to discover whether the incidence of disability pensions and mortality was higher amongst semi-skilled construction workers (SCW) in Copenhagen than in two control groups from the same geographic area. The population investigated consisted of a fixed cohort of 3537 SCW from Copenhagen as per 1/5/1975. The two control groups comprised 3818 Copenhagen members of the Warehouse Workers' union and a group of Copenhagen members of the Semi-skilled Worker's Union age-matched to the SCW cohort, both as per 1/5/75. Up to 31/12/79, a total of 102 SCW were granted disability pensions, compared with 89 and 77 in the two control groups respectively, i.e. a significantly higher frequency of award of disability pension among SCW than among warehouse workers (p less than 0.05). This was due especially to a higher frequency of disability pensions granted because of musculoskeletal diseases and cancer in SCW. The number of deaths was recorded from 1/5/75 to 30/11/78. No differences in overall mortality were found among the three groups, although slightly fewer deaths from lung cancer and ischaemic heart diseases and more suicides were observed among the construction workers. Selection bias and the effect of the working environment are discussed against the background of a concurrent investigation of the state of health and working conditions of SCW.

Low-back pain and early retirement among Danish semiskilled construction workers.

According to new regulations Danish trade union members are able to retire earlier than normal, at the age of 60-65 a. One of the reasons for retirement might be symptoms of wear and tear, eg, low-back pain. Questionnaires were sent to 157 semiskilled construction workers and 210 members of a reference group. Forty percent of the construction workers reported low-back pain as one of the reasons for retirement, whereas the corresponding percentage of referents was 25. Low-back pain occurred in the year before retirement for 68% of the construction workers and 50% of the reference group. The relationship between low-back pain, selection, and semiskilled construction work is discussed.