Paul Landsbergis1, Eckardt Johanning, Marco Stillo, Rahul Jain, Michelle Davis. 1. State University of New York SUNY)-Downstate School of Public Health, Brooklyn, New York (Dr Landsbergis, Mr Stillo, Mr Jain, Ms Davis), Johanning MD, PC, Albany, New York (Dr Johanning), and Center for Family and Community Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York (Dr Johanning).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to measure musculoskeletal disorders and occupational risk factors among railroad maintenance-of-way (MOW) workers. METHODS: Four thousand eight hundred sixteen active, retired, and disabled members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) completed a survey. RESULTS: Compared with U.S. employed men, adjusting for age, race, and region, active male MOW workers were more likely to report "repeated lifting, pushing, pulling, or bending" at work (74.6% vs 46.9%), not enough staff (88.1% vs 65.2%), and a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (7.9% vs 3.6%). They were less likely to report management priority on workplace health and safety (59.37% vs 94.8%), ability to make job decisions on their own (68.4% vs 87.7%), and supervisor support (60.3% vs 90.8%) (all comparisons, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Prevention programs should address risk of musculoskeletal disorders and occupational hazards faced by MOW workers.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to measure musculoskeletal disorders and occupational risk factors among railroad maintenance-of-way (MOW) workers. METHODS: Four thousand eight hundred sixteen active, retired, and disabled members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) completed a survey. RESULTS: Compared with U.S. employed men, adjusting for age, race, and region, active male MOW workers were more likely to report "repeated lifting, pushing, pulling, or bending" at work (74.6% vs 46.9%), not enough staff (88.1% vs 65.2%), and a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (7.9% vs 3.6%). They were less likely to report management priority on workplace health and safety (59.37% vs 94.8%), ability to make job decisions on their own (68.4% vs 87.7%), and supervisor support (60.3% vs 90.8%) (all comparisons, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Prevention programs should address risk of musculoskeletal disorders and occupational hazards faced by MOW workers.