Construction Solutions work hazards, and options for making work safer
 
Solution:

Worker Rotation
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  Description:
Worker rotation is an administrative control that involves moving workers to different jobs periodically within a shift. On any given worksite, there are certain tasks that are more stressful and require more energy than others. Often, these are the tasks that lead to overuse injuries. The extra stress could be associated with repetition, overhead or stooped posture, or excessive amount of force necessary to complete the task. Worker rotation differs from other engineering controls in which the working environment or tools are altered. Worker rotation does not change how the work is done, but spreads the workload of the task to many workers, instead of only a select few.
  
  Risks Addressed:

Musculoskeletal disorders associated with:

  • Overhead work
  • Stooped postures
  • Manual materials handling
  • Stressful hand and wrist activity
  • Kneeling & squatting
  • Repetitive work
  
  How Risks are Reduced:
People participating in a worker rotation are still exposed to risk factors that could cause injuries. However, the length of exposure to the risk is decreased.  For example, workers do not have to sustain awkward postures or be exposed to repetitive work for long periods of time.

Quality of Evidence

  • Independent published studies have found a risk reduction.
  • Manufacturers, vendors, or worksites have reported a risk reduction.
  • Safety and health experts believe there is a risk reduction.
Independent published studies report that there is a decrease in the risk of developing injury when a worker is exposed to a variety of tasks requiring different muscle groups and exertion levels. Studies also have shown that workers who perform repeated activities above shoulder level are at greater risk of sustaining shoulder musculoskeletal disorders.  Workers who spend more time in stooped posture or other awkward back postures are at a higher risk for developing low back problems. Worker rotation is an effective intervention for reducing this time.
 
It should be remembered that worker rotation does not change the risk factors of a given task. The risk factors are distributed over more workers, but the risk of injury is still present.
  
  Effects on Productivity:
Productivity is maintained or increased on a worksite with an effective worker rotation.

Quality of Evidence

  • Independent published studies have found an increase in productivity.
  • Manufacturers or vendors have reported an increase in productivity.
  • Safety and health experts believe there is an increase in productivity.
An independent published study reports an increase of productivity when worker rotations are used. Due to decreased fatigue, boredom, and absenteeism, workers are motivated to perform better. When workers are rotated to different tasks, the work force becomes multi-skilled. There is more flexibility on worksites when faced with illnesses or workers taking vacation time.
 
Worksites report that workers are more satisfied with job assignment when using worker rotation.  There is a perceived fairness when workers are required to do tasks considered to be ‘good’ and ‘bad’ jobs. 
 
Worker rotations have also been shown to decrease productivity. If workers are rotated to jobs in which they are unfamiliar, their productivity decreases. Sufficient training of new tasks eliminates this possibility, but is often overlooked when implementing a worker rotation.
  
  Return on Investment: No specific calculation ROI information exists for this particular solution, however, there are some general approaches that might be useful for a “Return On Investment” analysis. For a general discussion of these approaches, visit our “Return on Investment Calculation” page.  
  Availability:
Guidelines for designing worker rotations can be found at:
  
  Additional Considerations:
Worker rotation can be effectively used for workers placed on light duty after returning from an injury. If a worker has limitations, the tasks they perform within the worker rotation can be altered.
 
Although worker rotation can be an effective intervention, implementation of engineering controls is usually a better solution for decreasing the risk of MSDs.
  
Hazards Addressed:
Sources:


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