ABSTRACT
Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the biggest occupational health problems in industrialized countries. According to national statistics, the proportion of musculoskeletal diseases of all occupational diseases in Finland was 31% (Kauppinen et al., 1994) and in the United States, 44% (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1996). It was also noted that approximately 10% of occupational accidents resulted from sudden movements, lifting, repetitive motions, or overuse (Federation of Accident Insurance Institutions, 1995). Physical workload has been recognized as a factor affecting workers’ health at several jobs. For example, about 33% of occupational diseases attributed to construction sites in Finland were linked to ergonomic factors associated with manual tasks (Federation of Accident Insurance Institutions, 1995).
