We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Physical Work Demands of Maintenance Workers on Onshore Petroleum Facilities in Norway: An Observational Study Utilizing Wearable Sensor Technology.
- Authors
Tjøsvoll, Svein O; Fimland, Marius Steiro; Gonzalez, Victor; Seeberg, Trine M; Holtermann, Andreas; Færevik, Hilde; Wiggen, Øystein
- Abstract
Objectives High physical work demands can cause musculoskeletal disorders and sick leave in petroleum workers. However, our knowledge of their physical work demands is scarce and based on self-report. The objective of our study is to work towards closing this knowledge gap by assessing the physical work demands of onshore petroleum maintenance workers using body-worn sensors. Methods A total of 46 of 69 eligible maintenance workers (37 mechanics and 9 process technicians) from three onshore petroleum facilities in Norway filled in a questionnaire and diary and wore five accelerometers and a heart rate sensor for up to six consecutive workdays. Work-related physical activity and postures were classified using rule-based modelling in a modified version of the validated Acti4 software. Results The onshore maintenance petroleum workers were working an average of 10 h a day and spent on average this time with 48% (SD = 16.5) sitting, 1% (SD = 2.8) lying down, 39% (SD = 16.2) in light physical activity, and 9% (SD = 3.8) in moderate to vigorous physical activity. During work hours while at feet, we found arm elevation ≥60° to be 11% (SD = 7.1) (68 min), and forward bending of the trunk ≥60° to be 2% (SD = 2.2) (14 min). The workers spent 2% (SD = 2.5) (12 minu) of the workhours kneeling. We observed a high inter-individual variation for all these work exposures. Moreover, 26% (12) of the workers conducted static standing for >30% of the workday, and 17% (8) spent more than half of the work hours >33% of their estimated maximal cardiovascular capacity. Conclusions While onshore maintenance petroleum workers on average spend about half of the workday sitting or lying down, the remaining worktime is spent with a rather high duration of arm elevation and forward bending. Quite high fraction of the workers spends much of the workhours in static standing and kneeling. We see a substantial variation in these work exposures between the workers. The findings indicate a need for preventive measures in how work is organized and performed.
- Subjects
NORWAY; OCCUPATIONAL diseases; MUSCULOSKELETAL system diseases; SICK leave; PETROLEUM; SCIENTIFIC observation; WEARABLE technology; ACCELEROMETERS; OCCUPATIONAL exposure; PHYSICAL activity; HEART beat; POSTURE; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; RESEARCH funding; DATA analysis software; INDUSTRIAL hygiene
- Publication
Annals of Work Exposures & Health, 2023, Vol 67, Issue 6, p706
- ISSN
2398-7308
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/annweh/wxad022