Building and maintaining healthy construction workers for longer working lives through better ...

328 Pages·2017·11.84 MB·English

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Building and maintaining
healthy construction workers
for longer working lives
through better workplace
design
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by the/an author.
Additional Information:
• A Doctoral Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the award of Doctor of Philosophy of Loughborough University.
Metadata Record: https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/21185
Publisher: (cid:13)c Stephanie Eaves
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(CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence. Full details of this licence are available at:
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Please cite the published version.
Building and maintaining healthy
construction workers for longer working
lives through better workplace design
by
Stephanie Eaves
Doctoral thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the
requirement for the award of Doctor of Philosophy of
Loughborough University
© Stephanie Eaves, 2015
CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY

This is to certify that I am responsible for the work submitted in this thesis, that the
original work is my own except as specified in acknowledgments or in footnotes, and
that neither the thesis nor the original work contained therein has been submitted to
this or any other institution for a degree.

……………………………………………. ( Signed )

……………………………………………. ( Date)

i
Abstract
Globally, there is an ageing population resulting in an older workforce; in the UK it
is predicted that by 2050 over one third of the workforce will be aged over 50.
Construction involves heavy manual labour where working into later life may be
difficult and natural, age-related decline is exacerbated by working conditions. Co-
developing ideas with workers using participatory approaches can facilitate positive,
healthy change in the workplace. The aim of this thesis is to explore ways in which
construction workers’ jobs and workplaces can be made healthier, easier and safer to
facilitate healthy ageing and longer working lives.
An in-depth interview study with 80 construction workers explored their
understanding of their health and wellbeing at work and ideas for improvement. The
Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire identified a high prevalence of symptoms in
workers of all ages in the knees, lower back, wrists and hands. Many of these
symptoms were considered to be work related; interestingly, this did not affect Work
Ability Index ratings. Workers had good ideas to improve their health and wellbeing
at work; over 400 changes had been made or were being sustained by workers
around improving manual handling, PPE, tools and machinery and health and
wellbeing. A further 265 new suggestions were made concerned with education and
supervision, facilities and human resources.
In-depth focus groups with senior stakeholders (n=18) in three construction
organisations explored barriers and opportunities for change. They were concerned
about the health and wellbeing of their workers; were keen to hear their ideas; and
identified poor communication within the whole workforce as a barrier to change.
Opportunities to improve the situation included better feedback to workers, and
interactive toolbox talks to encourage idea generation and sharing experiences.
Finally, participatory workshops with senior stakeholders and trades’ workers (n=23)
captured ideas for the development of a resource for the industry to facilitate longer
working lives. Participants strongly suggested that the resource should facilitate
communication between the workforce and supervisors by being visually engaging,
strongly health-related and interactive, to capture and maintain the attention and
involvement of the workforce.
ii
Acknowledgements
Firstly I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my supervisors; to Dr. Diane
Gyi for her unwavering support and patience throughout this project, her ability to
read my chapters in the smallest time frames proved invaluable. To Professor Alistair
Gibb for his support throughout this process, for providing essential contacts for my
research studies and for always telling me to keep smiling! Their support and
encouragement was paramount to the writing of this thesis and I am extremely
grateful.
I would like to acknowledge Age UK’s ‘Research into Ageing Fund’ for sponsoring
this research and in particular to Libby Archer, who was always on hand as a friendly
point of contact in Age UK.
I would like to thank the organisations and individuals who spared their valuable
time to take part in my research; Durkan, Costain and Loughborough Facilities
Management and the personal contacts who also took part. Special thanks to Patrick
Phillips and Ian Cresswell of Durkan, who went above and beyond to organise
meetings for my research.
Special thanks to all my colleagues in the Design School, LDS1.23 and all those in
Elvyn Richards Hall for never letting the mood get too low. To Dr. Hilary
McDermott for being both a mentor and a friend to me.
Finally, to my wonderful family and friends who have supported me all the way. To
my Mum, Jane, who was always at the end of the phone no matter what time of night
and whose belief in me has never faltered and to her partner Patrick, who has been
like a Father to my brothers and I. To my partner Tim, who arrived at the most
poignant time of my studies and whose constant love and support has seen me
through to the finish line…we’re almost there!

This thesis is dedicated to those who have been lost along the way; Nanny &
Granddad Toast, Nanny & Granddad Benji and my incredibly strong Auntie Jan.
iii
Publications
Journals
Eaves, S., Gyi, D. E., & Gibb, A. G. F., 2016. Building healthy construction workers:
Their views on health, wellbeing and better workplace design. Applied Ergonomics,
54, 10-18.
Conference papers
Eaves, S., Gyi, D., & Gibb, A. (2013) Building healthy construction workers by
better workplace design: understanding in context. In Smith, S. D., & Ahiaga-Dagbui,
D. D. (Eds.) Proceedings 29th Annual ARCOM Conference, 2-4 September 2013,
Reading, UK, Association of Researchers in Construction Management, 101-109.
Eaves, S., Gyi, D. E., & Gibb, A. G. F. (2014) Healthy ageing in the construction
industry; background and preliminary findings. In Sharples, S., & Shorrock, S. (Eds.)
(2014) Contemporary Ergonomics and Human Factors, London: Taylor & Francis.
Eaves, S., Gyi, D., & Gibb, A. (2014) Healthy construction workers by better
workplace design. In Aulin, R., & Ek, Å. (Eds.) (2014) Proceedings CIB W099
Achieving Sustainable Construction Health and Safety, 2-3 June 2014, Lund, Sweden,
148-156.
Eaves, S., Gyi, D., & Gibb, A. (2014) Construction workers’ views on workplace
design and ‘healthy’ ageing. In Raiden, A., & Aboagye-Nimo, E. (Eds.) (2014)
Proceedings 30th Annual ARCOM Conference, 1-3 September 2014, Portsmouth, UK,
Association of Researchers in Construction Management, 311-320.
Eaves, S. J., Gyi, D. E., & Gibb, A. G. F. (2015) Stakeholders’ views on the ageing
construction workforce: preliminary findings. In Sharples, S., Waterson, P., &
Shorrock, S. (Eds.) (2015) Contemporary Ergonomics and Human Factors, London:
Taylor & Francis.
Eaves, S. J., Gyi, D. E., & Gibb, A. G. F., 2015. Facilitating healthy ageing in
construction: stakeholder views. In Ahram, T., Karwowski, W., & Schmorrow, D.
(Eds.) (2015) Procedia Manufacturing, 6th International Conference on Applied
Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2015) and the Affiliated Conferences,
AHFE 2015, 27-30 July, Las Vegas, USA, 4681-4688.

Other
Monthly ‘PhD Blog’ in The Ergonomist Magazine

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Table of contents
CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY .................................................... i
1. Introduction ...................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background to research ..................................................................................... 1
1.2 Aims and objectives ........................................................................................... 4
1.3 Methodology ...................................................................................................... 5
1.4 Structure of the thesis ........................................................................................ 6
2. Literature review .............................................................................. 8
2.1 Ageing ................................................................................................................ 9
2.1.2 The effects of ageing ................................................................................. 10
2.2 The older worker .............................................................................................. 14
2.3 The construction industry ................................................................................ 19
2.3.1 Health, safety and wellbeing in construction ............................................ 21
2.4.2 Injuries ...................................................................................................... 24
2.4.3 Musculoskeletal disorders ......................................................................... 26
2.4 The older construction worker ......................................................................... 28
2.5 Summary .......................................................................................................... 32
3. Methodology.................................................................................... 34
3.1 Research paradigms ......................................................................................... 35
3.2 Research strategy ............................................................................................. 36
3.3 Trustworthiness: reliability, validity and triangulation .................................... 39
3.4 Research methods ............................................................................................ 40
3.4.1 Questionnaires .......................................................................................... 40
3.4.2 Interviews .................................................................................................. 42
3.4.3 Focus groups ............................................................................................. 43
3.5 Sampling techniques ........................................................................................ 45
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3.6 Assessment tools for research in construction ................................................. 47
3.6.1 Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire ...................................................... 47
3.6.2 Work ability index .................................................................................... 49
3.6.3 Stage of change questionnaire .................................................................. 50
3.6.4 Posture analysis ......................................................................................... 51
3.7 Participatory ergonomics ................................................................................. 52
3.8 Summary .......................................................................................................... 56
4. Study one: interviews with construction workers ....................... 58
4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 58
4.2 Aims and objectives ......................................................................................... 58
4.3 Sampling .......................................................................................................... 59
4.4 Study design, rationale and ethics .................................................................... 60
4.5 Interview Schedule .......................................................................................... 60
4.6 Data analysis .................................................................................................... 63
4.6.1 Qualitative data analysis ........................................................................... 63
4.6.2 Quantitative data analysis ......................................................................... 63
4.7 Results .............................................................................................................. 64
4.7.1 Pilot study ................................................................................................. 65
4.7.2 Sample ...................................................................................................... 65
4.7.3 Demographics ........................................................................................... 68
4.7.4 Quantitative data: health ........................................................................... 69
4.7.5 Qualitative data: interviews ...................................................................... 79
4.8 Discussion ...................................................................................................... 103
4.9 Limitations ..................................................................................................... 108
4.10 Conclusions .................................................................................................. 110
5. Study two: focus groups with stakeholders ............................... 111
5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 111
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5.2 Aims and objectives ....................................................................................... 112
5.3 Sampling ........................................................................................................ 112
5.4 Study design and rationale ............................................................................. 113
5.5 Focus group schedule ..................................................................................... 113
5.6 Data analysis .................................................................................................. 119
5.7 Results ............................................................................................................ 119
5.7.1 Sample .................................................................................................... 119
5.7.2 Demographics ......................................................................................... 121
5.7.3 Thematic analysis ................................................................................... 121
5.8 Discussion ...................................................................................................... 161
5.9 Limitations ..................................................................................................... 167
5.10 Conclusions .................................................................................................. 168
6. Study Three: building the healthy construction worker
workshops ............................................................................................ 169
6.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 169
6.2 Aims and objectives ....................................................................................... 170
6.3 Sampling ........................................................................................................ 171
6.4 Study design and rationale ............................................................................. 172
6.5 Workshop schedule ........................................................................................ 172
6.6 Data analysis .................................................................................................. 176
6.7 Results ............................................................................................................ 176
6.7.1 Sample .................................................................................................... 176
6.7.2 Demographics ......................................................................................... 180
6.7.3 Thematic analysis results ........................................................................ 180
6.8 Discussion ...................................................................................................... 205
6.9 Limitations ..................................................................................................... 213
6.10 Conclusions .................................................................................................. 214
vii
7. Summary, recommendations and conclusions .......................... 216
7.1 Summary ........................................................................................................ 216
7.2 Recommendations .......................................................................................... 222
7.2.1 Construction trades’ workers .................................................................. 223
7.2.2 Senior construction workers ................................................................... 224
7.2.3 Future research opportunities .................................................................. 224
7.2.4 Other industries ....................................................................................... 226
7.3 Impact resource .............................................................................................. 227
7.4 Contribution to knowledge ............................................................................ 229
7.5 Conclusions .................................................................................................... 229
8. Discussion of findings within wider literature ........................... 231
8.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 231
8.2 Gender differences .................................................................................... 231
8.3 Interventions in manual industries ................................................................. 233
8.3.1 Change behaviour ................................................................................... 234
8.3.2 Transient workforces .............................................................................. 234
8.4 Personal Protective Equipment ...................................................................... 235
8.5 Organisational culture .................................................................................... 236
8.6 Summary ........................................................................................................ 236
9. References ..................................................................................... 238
Appendices ........................................................................................... 260
A1: Pluye’s mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) (Pluye et al., 20110 .......... 260
A2: Pluye’s mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) continued ......................... 261
A3: strategy used for literature review (in no particular order) ........................... 262
A4: key words used for searching relevant literature .......................................... 262
A5: critical analysis of papers researching older workers ................................... 263
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