Occupational Physical Strain Among Construction Finishing Workers: Insights from Risk Assessments

Studies on occupational physical strain among construction finishing workers are limited. The high-intensity manual work of the wall-finishing workers puts the workers at high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. There is a need to study and assess the risk factors that contribute to the well being and efficiency of the workers. As construction activity increases, the demand for finishing workers will rise, particularly as glass facades—which contribute over 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions, are expected to be replaced by more sustainable materials like concrete, wood, and recycled steel.This study examines the physical strain experienced by 117 finishing workers, including painters, glass cleaners, and wallpaper applicators, focusing on specific body regions and the assessment of musculoskeletal disorders affecting their well-being. Using a modified Nordic questionnaire, the study evaluates the frequency and severity of strain in body regions such as the shoulder, upper back, hand/wrist, lower back, and ankle/feet. While most regions showed significant associations, the neck had a non-significant p-value (0.059). Multivariate general linear modeling revealed that height and weight significantly influenced physical strain, while age and experience had minimal impact. Wall painters also reported a significant association between headaches and strain, albeit with low variance (Pillai's trace value of 0.26). Elevated REBA scores indicated high-risk working postures, emphasizing the need for immediate intervention to protect workers’ health and productivity as construction demands increase. The House of Quality method was utilized to convert data into actionable design expectations for creating a tool tailored to the needs of exterior wall painters.