Contradictory individualized self-blaming: a cross-sectional study of associations between expectations to managers, coworkers, one-self and risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers

Abstract

BackgroundWithin work sociology, several studies have addressed construction workers’ practices of masculinity, class, economy, safety risks and production. However, few studies have investigated room for agency in relation to bodily pain or musculoskeletal disorders and even fewer have made a quantitative approach. Accordingly, by means of a questionnaire, we examined the association between construction workers’ room for agency and physical exertion, bodily and mental fatigue, and lower back pain.MethodsA total of 481 Danish construction workers who responded to a multifaceted questionnaire were included. Drawing on previous studies and a Foucauldian inspired concept of agency, agency was quantified through specially crafted questions and examined in relation to established measures on physical exertion, physical and mental fatigue and pain in the lower back. Associations were tested using analyses of variance (general linear models) and controlled for age, gender, job group, lifestyle and depression.ResultsWhen asked about options for agency reducing the burden of work, few workers believed themselves to be prime agents of such practices. When asking about their view on performing alternative agency implying caring for the body, 39–49% expected negative reactions from management, and 20–33% expected negative reactions from colleagues. In contrast, only 13–18% of the participants stated that they would give a negative reception to such alternative practices.Using the expected reception outcomes (positive, neutral, negative) to alternative practices as predictors, the statistical regression analyses showed that negative expectations to management were associated with higher levels of physical exertion 0.62 (95% CI = 0.14–1.09) (scale 0-11), bodily fatigue 0.63 (95% CI = 0.22–1.04), mental fatigue 0.60 (95% CI = 0.07–1.12), and low back pain 0.79 (95% CI = 0.13–1.46) (scales 0-10).ConclusionIn our study, construction workers answered questions about work and MSD. The answers indicated a contradiction between perceived responsibility and room for agency.Based on the study, a number of target areas could fruitfully be addressed in aiming to reduce MSD among construction workers. To change workers’ expectances to the reception of lowering work pace if needed to take care of the body, their expectances to the reception of sickness absence as a result of pain, of discussing physical exertion in work and of demanding appropriate technical assistive devices are such examples. Our results emphasize that management plays an important role in this.

Is perception of safety climate a relevant predictor for occupational accidents? Prospective cohort study among blue-collar workers

“…In model 2, the three questions on managerial engagement in safety are the ones that are singularly relevant predictors for future reported accidents. That managerial engagement is particularly relevant is consistent with earlier results on both health and safety (22,23) and the risk for musculoskeletal disorders (24) in the construction industry. The difference between model 2 and 3 (ie, sensitivity analysis) may be due to workers who have not experienced an accident and who are not so engaged in their own and their coworker's safety, compared to workers (and workplaces) who experienced an accident, have learned from past accidents, and thus engage in pre- venting reoccurrences (25).…”

Effects of a Participatory Ergonomics Intervention With Wearable Technical Measurements of Physical Workload in the Construction Industry: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

“…Accordingly, other studies suggest that support from the management is critical for providing changes in the construction industry [45,46]. In the present study the management was often not willing to support the suggestions if they involved increased costs [47].…”

Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Symptoms of Construction Workers: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Title screening and abstracts generated 68 potential papers. Of the15 studies that were included, 11 had a cross-sectional study, 1 had a prospective cohort study, 2 had a longitudinal study, and 1 had a casecontrol study [7,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]24]. Figure 1 shows the search and selection process of the paper.…”

“…Organizational ✓ [19,20] Technological ✓ [19,20] Environmental ✓ [19,20] Economic ✓ [19,20] Social ✓ [19,20] Mental task contents ✓ [19,20] Performance ✓ [19,20] Physical health ✓ [21] Back Physical health ✓ [21] Mental health ✓ [21] Negative expectations to management ✓ [22] Cold environment ✓ [23] Sitting ✓ [24] Upper back Social ✓ [19,20] Upper back…”

“…Reasonable evidence risk factors identified for back symptoms in construction jobs are physical health and mental health [21]. Insufficient evidence risk factors identified for back symptoms in construction jobs are negative expectations and sitting [22,24].…”