Quality Planning and Analysis

Although individual studies have reported high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) among construction workers, no systematic review has summarized their prevalence rates. Accordingly, this systematic review/meta-analysis aimed to synthesize MSS prevalence in different construction trades, gender and age groups, which may help develop specific ergonomic interventions. Nine databases were searched for articles related to the research objective. Two reviewers independently screened citations, extracted information and conducted quality assessment of the included studies. Meta-analyses were conducted on clinical and statistical homogenous data. Thirty-five out of 1130 potential citations were included reporting diverse types of period prevalence and case definitions. Only the 1-year prevalence rates of MSS (defined as at least one episode of pain/MSS in the last year) at nine anatomical regions had sufficient homogeneous data for meta-analysis. Specifically, the 1-year prevalence of MSS was 51.1% for lower back, 37.2% for knee, 32.4% for shoulder, 30.4% for wrist, 24.4% for neck, 24.0% for ankle/foot, 20.3% for elbow, 19.8% for upper back, and 15.1% for hip/thigh. Female workers demonstrated a higher prevalence of MSS while there was insufficient information on the prevalence of trade-specific or age-related MSS. The quality assessments revealed that many included studies estimated prevalence solely based on self-reported data, and did not report non-respondents’ characteristics. Lumbar, knee, shoulder, and wrist MSS are the most common symptoms among construction workers. Future studies should standardize the reporting of period prevalence of MSS in different construction trades to allow meta-analyses and to develop relevant MSS prevention program.

The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the construction industry: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose




Due to its impact on business performance total quality management (TQM) has gained a lot of importance by businessmen, managers, practitioners, and research scholars over the last 20 years. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to critically assess the literature on TQM and find out the areas where future research is required.




Design/methodology/approach




To achieve this purpose the articles published in the last 20 years were studied in a systematic way and a snapshot of the same was prepared in the tabular format with points such as year and journal of publication, application and country, statistical method used, and findings of the study such as practices and impact of TQM. After identifying the practices and impact of TQM a quality tool “Pareto Analysis” was applied on them for development of the model.




Findings




The findings provide the practices of TQM and its impact on the performance of a business. The gaps from the literature have been identified and areas for future research have been suggested. On the basis of the findings a generalized framework of TQM has been suggested which can be applicable irrespective of the sector.




Practical implications




The research will help academicians and future researchers to have a clear understanding of TQM in different rosters.




Originality/value




Ample literature is available on TQM but in the best knowledge of authors no study has taken place to integrate the reviews and findings of 102 research papers of the last two decades.

Total quality management: a critical literature review using Pareto analysis

Associations between physical or psychosocial risk factors and work-related musculoskeletal disorders in construction workers based on literature in the last 20 years: A systematic review

Construction is a manual, heavy, and complex sector concerning the most fatal accidents and high incidence of occupational illnesses and injuries resulting in days away from work. In Hong Kong, “Pilot Medical Examination Scheme for Construction Workers” was launched in 2014 to detect the health problems of their construction workforce. All registered workers under the Construction Workers Registration Board are eligible to join the scheme. The purpose of this paper is to assess the physical condition, physiological status, and musculoskeletal disorders of 942 construction workers in Hong Kong. This study adopted a two-phase design, which includes a basic medical examination to measure the workers’ physiological parameters, such as blood pressure, resting heart rate, glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, liver function test, and renal function test; as well as a face-to-face interview following the medical examination to collect their demographic information and pain experience. Individual characteristics, including gender, age, obesity, alcohol drinking habit, and sleeping habit influenced the health condition of construction workers. Among the participants, 36.1% and 6.5% of them were overweight and obese, respectively. In addition, 43.0%, 38.4%, 16.2%, and 13.9% of the participants exceeded the thresholds of cholesterol, blood pressure, urea nitrogen, and uric urea, correspondingly. Moreover, 41.0% of the participants suffered musculoskeletal pain, where the most frequent painful parts occur in the lower back, shoulder, knees, leg, and neck. Through these findings, a series of important issues that need to be addressed is pointed out in terms of maintaining the physical well-being and reducing musculoskeletal disorders of construction workers. The finding may have implications for formulating proper intervention strategies for the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s construction industry.

Health Profile of Construction Workers in Hong Kong.

Background: The nature of work in the construction industry is closely associated with many human factor hazards. Manual construction workers are exposed to hand-arm vibration, repetitive movements, holding of heavy loads and tools, and frequent manual materials handling hazards in their daily tasks. Work related musculoskeletal disorders are major problems faced by construction workers, which involve the nerves, tendons, muscles and other supporting structures of the body. Two main objectives of this study were firstly, to determine the risk factors and the prevalence and secondly, to identify the association of the risks with muscular musculoskeletal disorders symptoms among construction workers. Methods: Evaluation was done through survey questionnaire which also involved the standardized Nordic questionnaire. Sixty male construction workers aged between 17 to 50 years old took part in the study. Their main daily tasks are bricklaying, skim coating, housekeeping and plastering. Results: 66.7% of the workers who took part in the study had high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders symptoms at their elbows, wrists or hands and ankles or feet. Conclusion: Manual construction workers are highly exposed to the risks of getting work related musculoskeletal disorders and there are significant associations (P = 0.023) between working duration with MSDs symptom among construction workers with respect to the workers lower limb.

/pdf/prevalence-of-work-related-musculoskeletal-disorders-ak6uyk52de.pdf

Prevalence of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Symptoms among Construction Workers: a Case Study in Malaysia

During the last two decades, quality had become a very important issue in many large organisations for both industrial and service sectors. They regard quality as a formidable weapon in addressing business competition and challenges both from local and global competitors. At present, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) had also joint the bandwagon in their effort to improve their products and services quality. One of the bold step taken by SMEs involved in the automotive components manufacturing sector to improve their product and service quality and hence their overall competitiveness in the open market is by implementing Total Quality Management (TQM). SMEs’ main objectives in implementing TQM in their organisations are to ensure their products manufactured or services provided shall satisfy their customers’ requirements and needs. This paper presents a survey conducted to identify the level of SMEs senior managements’ awareness and their attitude towards implementing TQM activities. In this study, one important aspect of TQM that is “senior management responsibilities and involvement in providing top-down short and long term support” was used as a parameter to identify their level of awareness and attitude towards the importance of implementing TQM in SMEs.

/pdf/role-of-senior-management-in-tqm-implementation-in-malaysian-mrr9q70zfj.pdf

Khamis Nor Kamaliana

Papers

Prevalence of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Symptoms among Construction Workers: a Case Study in Malaysia

Role of senior management in tqm implementation in malaysian small and medium enterprises