title: Best practices for preventing musculoskeletal disorders in masonry: stakeholder perspectives.
abstract: Brick masons and mason tenders report a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), many of which can be prevented with changes in materials, work equipment or work practices. To explore the use of "best practices" in the masonry industry, NIOSH organized a 2-day meeting of masonry stakeholders. Attendees included 30 industry representatives, 5 health and safety researchers, 4 health/safety specialists, 2 ergonomic consultants, and 2 representatives of state workers' compensation programs. Small groups discussed ergonomic interventions currently utilized in the masonry industry, including factors affecting intervention implementation and ways to promote diffusion of interventions. Meeting participants also identified various barriers to intervention implementation, including business considerations, quality concerns, design issues, supply problems, jobsite conditions and management practices that can slow or limit intervention diffusion. To be successful, future diffusion efforts must not only raise awareness of available solutions but also address these practical concerns.
authors.affiliation: Center to Protect Workers' Rights (CPWR), 8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 1000, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Entzel
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albers
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Welch
mesh_terms: D006804:Ergonomics; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D014481:United States