title: In search of a representative sample of residential building work.
abstract: Most research investigating injuries in construction work is limited by reliance on work samples unrepresentative of the multiple, variable-cycle tasks involved, resulting in incomplete characterisation of ergonomic exposures. In this case study, a participatory approach was used including hierarchical task analysis and site observations of a typical team of house builders in New Zealand, over several working days, to obtain a representative work sample. The builders' work consisted of 14 goal-defined jobs using varying subsets of 15 task types, each taking from less than 1 s to more than 1 h and performed in a variety of postures. Task type and duration varied within and between participants and days, although all participants spent at least 25% of the time moving from place to place, mostly carrying materials, and more than half the time either reaching up or bending down to work. This research has provided a description of residential building work based on a work sample more nearly representative than those previously published and has demonstrated a simple, low-cost but robust field observation method that can provide a valid basis for further study of hazard exposures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. b.lobb@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lobb
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D006804:Ergonomics; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D019370:Observation; D016272:Occupational Health; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis