Reducing knee morbidity among carpetlayers.
Carpetlayers have a high prevalence of occupational knee morbidity, partly attributable to their use of the knee kicker to stretch carpet for wall-to-wall installation. While a mechanical alternative "power stretcher" is available, knee kickers are still widely used. A questionnaire survey indicated that unavailability of the mechanical stretcher at installation sites was a major factor for continued use of the knee kicker. Strategies to reduce use of the knee kicker are discussed.
Tanaka
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Division of Surveillance, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.
Lee
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Halperin
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Thun
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M
Smith
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D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*