title: Observed use of voluntary controls to reduce physical exposures among sheet metal workers of the mechanical trade.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the transfer into the workplace of interventions designed to reduce the physical demands of sheet metal workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed videos from a case series of 15 sheet metal worksite assessments performed in 2007-2009 to score postures and physical loads, and to observe the use of recommended interventions to reduce physical exposures in sheet metal activities made by a NIOSH stakeholder meeting in 2002.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Workers showed consistent use of material handling devices, but we observed few uses of recommended interventions to reduce exposures during overhead work. Workers spent large proportions of time in awkward shoulder elevation and low back rotation postures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to the development of new technologies and system designs, increased adoption of existing tools and practices could reduce time spent in awkward postures and other risks for musculoskeletal disorders in sheet metal work.
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, Division of General Medical Sciences, Campus Box 8005, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address: adale@dom.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Ann Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, Division of General Medical Sciences, Campus Box 8005, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; Washington University School of Medicine, Program in Physical Therapy, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, Campus Box 8502, Saint Louis, MO 63108, USA.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, Division of General Medical Sciences, Campus Box 8005, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Bethany T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, Program in Physical Therapy, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, Campus Box 8502, Saint Louis, MO 63108, USA.
authors.forename: Ching-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, Division of General Medical Sciences, Campus Box 8005, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Evanoff
authors.affiliation: The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), 8484 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Welch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060389:Construction Industry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D014741:Video Recording; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Intervention study; Musculoskeletal injuries; Technology transfer