As the work force ages and workers retirement age increases, the number of workers suffering from Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) has increased. In a recent study, the U.S Bureau of Labor reported that 6.9% of all WMSDs affected shoulders. Electricians, carpenters, and related construction crafts appear to experience higher incidence of these injuries due the nature of their work that require them often to use Awkward shoulder postures. This research aims to develop a new monitoring system that measure the amount of time workers spend in awkward shoulder postures to help decrease the prevalence of cumulative shoulder injuries and to reduce the number of cases of shoulder WMSDs among construction workers. The monitoring system was designed and a feasibility study was conduct to compare the monitoring system with a state of the art motion tracking system. Overall the monitoring system was able to count the time spent in awkward posture as a discrete state sensor and it can be implemented in the field. However, results showed that the monitoring system in its current configuration require some future work for it to produce quantitatively precise results that can be used in the fields of biomechanics, robotics, and ergonomics.

Major paper (M.U.R.P.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-77). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (MTech (Construction Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 126-134). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-169). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 226-234). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 226-234). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (MTech (Construction Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-157). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-169). Also available on the Internet.

O presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a influência da sintomatologia da dor/desconforto na qualidade de vida no trabalho de operários da construção civil da cidade de Ponta Grossa, Estado do Paraná. Na coleta de dados foram utilizados dois instrumentos validados, o Diagrama de Corlett e Manenica e o Questionário Quality of Working Life Questionnaire – QWLQ - 78. Os dados foram analisados pela estatística descritiva e Data Mining, sendo correlacionados através das variáveis coletadas pelos instrumentos e pela média das idades dos sujeitos entrevistados. Constatou-se que para uma amostra de 95 operários, os resultados do Diagrama de Corlett e Manenica, através do Teste ANOVA, não apresentaram diferenças significativas. Para os resultados obtidos através do QWLQ - 78, no domínio pessoal, obteve-se o maior valor (65,94) e o menor valor foi no domínio profissional (56,39). Na correlação entre os resultados dos dois instrumentos utilizados o valor encontrado foi de r = + 0,12 (correlação direta e fraca). Nos valores de correlação entre o diagrama de Corlett e Manenica e a média das idades da amostra o resultado foi r = – 0,19 (correlação inversa e fraca) e na correlação entre as médias das idades e o QWLQ - 78 o resultado foi r = + 0,57 (correlação direta e moderada). Conclui-se que a sintomatologia da dor tem influência mínima na qualidade de vida no trabalho, enquanto que a questão da idade tem influência mínima na presença das sensações dolorosas, podendo afetar de maneira moderada a qualidade de vida no trabalho. / The present study aims to evaluate the influence of symptoms of pain/discomfort in the quality of working life of construction workers in the city of Ponta Grossa, Paraná State. During data collection, two validated instruments were used, the diagram and Corlett Manenica Questionnaire and Quality of Working Life Questionnaire - QWLQ - 78. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and data mining, and correlated with the variables collected by the instruments and the average age of the subjects interviewed. It was found that for a sample of 95 workers, the results of the diagram and Manenica Corlett, by ANOVA test, no significant differences. For the results obtained from QWLQ - 78, in the personal, gave the highest value (65.94) and the lowest was in the professional field (56.39). In the correlation between the results of the two instruments used the value found was r = +0.12 (weak positive correlation). In the correlation values between the diagram and Corlett Manenica and mean ages of the sample the result was r = - 0,19 (weak inverse correlation) and the correlation between the mean ages and QWLQ - 78 the result was r = + 0.57 (moderate positive correlation). It is concluded that the symptoms of pain has minimal influence on the quality of work life, while the question of age has minimal influence in the presence of painful sensations, which may affect the quality in a moderate way of life at work.

O presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a influência da sintomatologia da dor/desconforto na qualidade de vida no trabalho de operários da construção civil da cidade de Ponta Grossa, Estado do Paraná. Na coleta de dados foram utilizados dois instrumentos validados, o Diagrama de Corlett e Manenica e o Questionário Quality of Working Life Questionnaire – QWLQ - 78. Os dados foram analisados pela estatística descritiva e Data Mining, sendo correlacionados através das variáveis coletadas pelos instrumentos e pela média das idades dos sujeitos entrevistados. Constatou-se que para uma amostra de 95 operários, os resultados do Diagrama de Corlett e Manenica, através do Teste ANOVA, não apresentaram diferenças significativas. Para os resultados obtidos através do QWLQ - 78, no domínio pessoal, obteve-se o maior valor (65,94) e o menor valor foi no domínio profissional (56,39). Na correlação entre os resultados dos dois instrumentos utilizados o valor encontrado foi de r = + 0,12 (correlação direta e fraca). Nos valores de correlação entre o diagrama de Corlett e Manenica e a média das idades da amostra o resultado foi r = – 0,19 (correlação inversa e fraca) e na correlação entre as médias das idades e o QWLQ - 78 o resultado foi r = + 0,57 (correlação direta e moderada). Conclui-se que a sintomatologia da dor tem influência mínima na qualidade de vida no trabalho, enquanto que a questão da idade tem influência mínima na presença das sensações dolorosas, podendo afetar de maneira moderada a qualidade de vida no trabalho. / The present study aims to evaluate the influence of symptoms of pain/discomfort in the quality of working life of construction workers in the city of Ponta Grossa, Paraná State. During data collection, two validated instruments were used, the diagram and Corlett Manenica Questionnaire and Quality of Working Life Questionnaire - QWLQ - 78. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and data mining, and correlated with the variables collected by the instruments and the average age of the subjects interviewed. It was found that for a sample of 95 workers, the results of the diagram and Manenica Corlett, by ANOVA test, no significant differences. For the results obtained from QWLQ - 78, in the personal, gave the highest value (65.94) and the lowest was in the professional field (56.39). In the correlation between the results of the two instruments used the value found was r = +0.12 (weak positive correlation). In the correlation values between the diagram and Corlett Manenica and mean ages of the sample the result was r = - 0,19 (weak inverse correlation) and the correlation between the mean ages and QWLQ - 78 the result was r = + 0.57 (moderate positive correlation). It is concluded that the symptoms of pain has minimal influence on the quality of work life, while the question of age has minimal influence in the presence of painful sensations, which may affect the quality in a moderate way of life at work.