Contributing Factors

There can be contributing factors that increase the severity of an injury or make a worker more prone to injury.

Temperature- when the weather is cold, muscles are tighter, and workers are more likely to suffer an injury if there is a sudden forceful movement or stress placed upon the body.

Work Pace and Work Stress- being required to maintain a certain pace can cause both physical and mental fatigue.

Age- older workers may need more time to recover from injuries, and younger workers may be less aware of safe work habits.

Gender- the center of gravity, grip strength, and power zone can differ for female and male workers.

Hobbies- workers that engage in hobbies that put stress on their bodies from vibrations or forceful motions may not be allowing their bodies time to heal from similar workplace stress.

Previous injuries- muscles, bones, and tendons that have been previously injured may be more easily re-injured.

Medical conditions- high blood pressure, poor physical condition, obesity, and heart disease put workers at higher risk for injury and may require longer recovery times.

Fatigue- workers at the end of a shift can be less attentive and more prone to making mistakes that can result in injuries.

To learn more about Construction Ergonomics visit our Construction Ergonomics Online Training web page.