Citation

Simeonov PI, Hsiao H, Dotson BW, Ammons DE. Hum. Factors 2003; 45(1): 136-147.

Affiliation

Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. psimeonov@cdc.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12916586

Abstract

Understanding roof-work-related risk of falls and developing low-cost, practical engineering controls for reducing this risk remain in high demand in the construction industry. This study investigated the effects of the roof work environment characteristics of surface slope, height, and visual reference on standing balance in construction workers. The 24 participants were tested in a laboratory setting at 4 slopes (0 degrees, 18 degrees, 26 degrees, and 34 degrees), 2 heights (0, 3 m), and 2 visual conditions (with and without visual references). Postural sway characteristics were calculated using center of pressure recordings from a force platform. Workers' perceptions of postural sway and instability were also evaluated. The results indicated that slope and height synergistically increased workers' standing postural instability. Workers recognized the individual destabilizing effects of slope and height but did not recognize the synergistic effect of the two. Visual references significantly reduced the destabilizing effects of height and slope. Actual and potential applications of this research include the use of temporary level work surfaces and proximal vertical reference structures as postural instability control measures during roofing work.