Ergonomics in Construction - minimizing hazards with optimal product use

Common ergonomic hazards within the construction industry

An ergonomic hazard refers to any aspect of a work environment or task that poses a risk of major or minor injury due to poor posture, repetitive motion, awkward positioning, or harmful environmental factors. While a specific hazard’s jobsite prevalence will vary from one division to the next, common symptoms include:

• Hand-operating high-vibration equipment which can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome and hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and related permanent damage to the nerves, joints, and circulation of the affected extremity. 
• Heavy lifting and manual handling tasks, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as strains, sprains, and back injuries.
• Prolonged periods of standing, bending, or crouching in awkward positions placing unnatural weight on muscles, joints, and connective tissues of the body. Additionally, this type of ergonomic hazard can restrict blood flow and circulation, further exacerbating the risk of injury and long-term health issues. 
• Reaching upward for extended periods can inflame shoulder and neck muscles or contribute to tears in the rotator cuff. 
• Persistent gripping or uncomfortable finger and hand positioning, such as pushing down a drill’s control trigger. 
• Performing simple, repetitive tasks—like hammering or fastener installation—can contribute to repetitive strain injury (RSI) over time.
• Sitting within heavy machinery that fails to buffer the effects of vibration or provide ergonomically designed seating to encourage healthy posture, all which was extensively documented in this research paper by N. Kumar Kittusamy Sc.D.
• Harmful exposure to loud noise that can lead to long-term hearing problems. 

Improving ergonomics through strategic equipment and part procurement

Seeking ergonomic-specific product enhancements

Product manufacturers should pinpoint the specific design elements that cater to construction workers’ ergonomic needs. However, it’s also important to have a scrutinizing eye when assessing potential tools and equipment. Most ergonomic-focused enhancements not only increase user comfort but directly or indirectly boost jobsite efficiency. 

Example ergonomic enhancements that minimize unnatural movements or posture

• Replacing single-point triggers on drills with broader trigger levers that distribute the impact across multiple fingers rather than concentrating it solely on one.
• Ergonomically designed tool grips and handles that fit the natural shape of the hand and are strategically angled to encourage a natural wrist positioning. 
• Adjustable heights and lengths for tool handles, machinery seats and work surfaces to support healthy posture and support for users of all heights.
• Tools that enable one-handed tasks, allowing construction workers to regularly switch. 

Construction workers only receive ergonomic benefits if the products are used as intended. For this reason, SFS provides comprehensive training and support for how to use the isoweld® induction welding system for optimal physical comfort and output. We can even send members of our team to perform live demonstrations. 

• Designing and testing seats of earthmoving machinery and similar equipment to minimize the amount of felt vibrations, particularly those at (1 to 8 Hz).

• Incorporating anti-vibration handles or vibration-dampening tool attachments into handheld tools. 

• When appropriate, inclusion of anti-vibration mounts intended specifically to absorb both noise and vibrations.

• Utilization of an autobalancer, which Chicago Pneumatic describes as “a disk, such as ball bearing, with freely moving balls inside that is fixed onto the output of the tool as a flange, and spins at the same speed as the tool’s output. While spinning, the balls compensate for any abrasive imperfection. Their fast rotation creates a gyroscopic effect that balances the tool, greatly reducing any vibration.”

Questions to ask when assessing a construction tool’s ergonomics 

• What ergonomic design elements are present within the tool, fastener, or building component? - A responsible manufacturer should have engineered their products with end users in mind and should have such information readily available. Remember, ergonomic-friendly design doesn’t have to be flashy to be effective.

• Are there safety products you recommend using alongside the equipment? - For example, anti-vibration gloves can reduce the ergonomic hazards related to many commonly used power tools.

• What noise and vibration levels does your tool produce - Understanding the noise and vibration output can not only help you make informed specifying decisions but also influence the layout of the construction site to minimize workers’ exposure to this ergonomic hazard.

• Do you offer live demos of your tools? - For example, SFS provides in-person demonstrations of our tools and general consultation to reinforce proper technique.

• What type of tool repair services do you offer? - As we’ll explore below, poorly maintained and malfunctioning construction tools can ultimately become an ergonomic hazard for workers. Select companies like SFS offer tool repair services designed to minimize any downtime.

Improving ergonomics through heightened engineering controls 

Engineering controls are equipment and strategies intended to minimize direct interaction between construction workers and hazards. While this concept extends to a diverse array of jobsite threats—such as exposure to harmful chemicals and falling debris—we’ll focus primarily on theoretical construction site engineering controls to address ergonomic hazards. Examples include: 

• Protective industrial products, such as custom-molded earplugs, back support belts, and anti-vibration gloves.

• Anti-fatigue mats that are specially designed  to reduce discomfort caused by standing for long periods by providing cushioning and support.

• Lift and hoist equipment that reduces the need for manual lifting. 

• Usage of noise absorption panels.

Improving ergonomics through strategic construction tool handling

The ergonomic health of construction workers is significantly influenced not only by the tools they use but also by how they utilize them. Examples of equipment-related administrative controls that can reduce a jobsite’s ergonomic hazards include: 

• Limiting time spent on high-vibration or straining tasks - It’s commonplace for workers to rotate between responsibilities to give their bodies a reprieve from specific repetitive tasks. 

• Properly maintaining equipment and replacing as needed - Worse-for-wear or malfunctioning equipment often produces unnecessarily high vibrations and noise levels. Therefore, regularly inspect parts and have a budget designated toward replacing or fixing problematic tools. 

• Strategically positioning certain equipment - Your construction site’s layout should not only minimize safety hazards and disorganization, but also offer buffers between workers and equipment consistently producing high levels of noise. This can be achieved through noise barriers or physical distance. 

• Confirming thorough jobsite training - Make sure ergonomic-friendly technique is both shown and reinforced throughout the construction site. Some tool manufacturers, such as SFS, will provide representatives to the construction site to demonstrate the tool’s functionality and answer questions. By the end of the training, all tool operators should know how to use the equipment with optimal handling and body positioning that maximizes both stability and comfort. Training should also detail any personal protective equipment (PPE) they should use and any tool-specific safety or ergonomic risks. 

• Choosing high-efficiency fasteners - Self-tapping and self-drilling screws streamline the installation process to markedly reduce related labor for large-scale projects. In turn, workers’ bodies undergo less prolonged exposure to high-vibration or unnatural hand positioning like holding down drill triggers. 

Buy equipment to counter environmental ergonomic hazards common to the construction industry

The construction site’s light and sound-levels all contribute to the overall ergonomics. After all, poor lighting can lead to eyestrain and headaches, and OSHA has strict rules for noise exposure to help reduce permanent hearing loss. 

Another major construction site ergonomic hazard becoming increasingly dangerous is heat exposure. There are many tactics teams can take, such as purchasing large fans and evaporative vests. Additionally, a handy tool is this heat App from OSHA which automatically sends warnings about particularly dangerous heat levels so workers and managers can adjust accordingly.

Bonus: Optimize two-way communication around ergonomics and safety

Ensure all construction workers are educated on identifying the telltale signs of overexertion to enable them to take early, preventative action for their wellbeing. Additionally, it's crucial to reaffirm with supervisors and management at all levels the importance of a 'safety first' ethos to prevent any unintentional undermining of workers’ health for the sake of meeting deadlines. They should also check with workers regularly and proactively highlight the topic of physical comfort rather than putting the impetus on workers to raise issues. 

Tactical communication around ergonomics and safety can come from the workers, themselves. They should be trained to spot early signs of tool disrepair and feel emboldened to report issues. Ideally, there should be a well-established process for providing anonymous feedback, perhaps even worker surveys. 

Boosting both profits and worker satisfaction through ergonomics

Upfront investments in smart ergonomic tool design can significantly enhance overall construction site efficiency. After all, ergonomic-friendly equipment enables workers to sustain tasks for longer periods while minimizing physical strain. What’s more, proactive injury prevention leads to fewer days when team members are non-operational as they recover. 

 What’s more, reducing injuries and increasing jobsite comfort significantly improve retention rates, addressing a common challenge in the construction industry, which suffers from a higher-than-average turnover rate. This not only reduces the time needed for ongoing recruitment, but also decreases the resources spent on training new team members and minimizes productivity losses due to the learning curve. 

In short, ergonomic tools and practices feed into a healthy environment for workers, boosting both their job satisfaction and performance. This, paired with the reduction of injury-related disruptions, ultimately leads to timely completion of projects.

Key takeaways about construction ergonomic improvements

By no means does this article reflect the many ways you can improve construction jobsite ergonomics. Other strategies include but aren’t limited to combatting shift-work fatigue and regularly performing job safety analysis (JSA). 

However, to summarize specific tool-specific actions you can take to optimize ergonomics:

• Include ergonomic design within your criteria when choosing construction equipment and parts 

• Ask strategically ergonomic-specific questions when choosing a vendor

• Buying specialty equipment and protective industrial products (PIP) intended to reduce exposure to ergonomic hazards

• Confirm optimal handling of construction equipment through training 

• Keep tools and parts like-new through ongoing maintenance 

• Consistently reinforce a culture of “safety-first” throughout the construction site

Invest in jobsite efficiency and worker safety with SFS

SFS meticulously engineers our fasteners and supporting equipment to optimize efficiency and accuracy while prioritizing ergonomic considerations whenever possible. These efforts are evident from our installation equipment to our fasteners themselves, many which support single-step and/or one-handed installation.

We strive to be the best partner for construction companies that prioritize worker safety and are mindful of their environmental impact. With over a century of experience and a locally-focused approach supported by a global network, we proudly offer dependable products and even more reliable service. In a time when the construction industry is more in flux than ever, you can count on SFS.