A science mapping-based review of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers

Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari; Heng Li; Alan Hoi Shou Chan; JoonOh Seo; Shahnawaz Anwer; Hao-Yang Mi; Zezhou Wu; Arnold Yu Lok Wong

doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2023.01.011

A science mapping-based review of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers

J Safety Res. 2023 Jun:85:114-128. doi: 10.1016/j.jsr.2023.01.011. Epub 2023 Feb 3.

Authors

Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari¹, Heng Li², Alan Hoi Shou Chan³, JoonOh Seo⁴, Shahnawaz Anwer⁵, Hao-Yang Mi⁶, Zezhou Wu⁷, Arnold Yu Lok Wong⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, United Kingdom. Electronic address: m.antwiafari@aston.ac.uk.
² Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Room No. ZS734, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: heng.li@polyu.edu.hk.
³ Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: alan.chan@cityu.edu.hk.
⁴ Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Room No. ZN742, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: joonoh.seo@polyu.edu.hk.
⁵ Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Room No. ZN1002, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: shahnawaz.anwer@connect.polyu.hk.
⁶ National Engineering Research Center for Advanced Polymer Processing Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450002, China. Electronic address: mihaoyang@zzu.edu.cn.
⁷ Department of Construction Management and Real Estate, College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China. Electronic address: wuzezhou@szu.edu.cn.
⁸ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Room No. ST512, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: arnold.wong@polyu.edu.hk.

PMID: 37330861
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2023.01.011

Abstract

Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are recognized as a leading cause of nonfatal injuries in construction, but no review of existing studies has systematically analyzed and visualized the trends of WMSDs among construction workers. The current science mapping-based review summarized research published between 2000 and 2021 related to WMSDs among construction workers through co-word, co-author, and citation analysis.

Method: A total of 63 bibliographic records retrieved from the Scopus database were analyzed.

Results: The results identified influential authors with high impacts in this research domain. Moreover, the results indicated that MSDs, ergonomics, and construction not only had the highest occurrence of been studied, but also the highest impact in terms of total link strength. In addition, the most significant contributions to research relating to WMSDs among construction workers have originated primarily from the United States, Hong Kong, and Canada. Furthermore, a follow-up in-depth qualitative discussion was conducted to focus on summarizing mainstream research topics, identifying existing research gaps, and proposing directions for future studies.

Conclusions: This review provides an in-depth understanding of related research on WMSDs among construction workers and proposes the emerging trends in this research field.

Keywords: Construction workers; Literature review; Science mapping; Scientometric analysis; Work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Construction Industry*
Ergonomics
Hong Kong
Humans
Musculoskeletal Diseases* / epidemiology
Musculoskeletal Diseases* / etiology
Occupational Diseases* / epidemiology
Occupational Diseases* / etiology
Prevalence
Risk Factors
United States