4.2. Comparison with other studies
van der Molen et al [9] studied the use of ergonomic measures
after a similar national campaign among carpenters and pavers. In
several aspects their results are comparable to our results: a small
proportion of construction workers increased their use of particular
ergonomic measures, whereas the majority did not change their
use at all and another, smaller, proportion decreased their use of
ergonomic measures. The percentage of workers regularly using
ergonomic measures was maximally 66% in the study by van der
Molen et al [9]. In our study, this percentage was only slightly
higher for measures for vertical transport at 71%, and substantially
lower for measures for the positioning or installing of materials
(54%). Apparently, based on two similar studies, a considerable
proportion of construction workers, regardless of their occupation,
cannot be reached by means of a campaign designed to increase the
use of ergonomic measures. Therefore, the full use of the ergonomic
measures can be regarded as fairly low. Based on the results of the
present study, a biannual national information campaign aimed at
increasing the use of ergonomic measures may be sufficient to raise
awareness but needs to be complemented by additional strategies
involving the employers to actually reduce the risks for MSDs and
eventually MSDs itself.