Janitors’ mental workload, psychosocial factors, physical fitness, and injury: The SWEEP study

Adam Schwartz; Susan Goodwin Gerberich; Thomas Albin; Hyun Kim; Andrew D. Ryan; Timothy R. Church; Deirdre R. Green; Patricia M McGovern; Arthur G. Erdman; Rony F. Arauz

doi:10.1016/j.ergon.2021.103132

Janitors’ mental workload, psychosocial factors, physical fitness, and injury: The SWEEP study

Adam Schwartz, Susan Goodwin Gerberich, Thomas Albin, Hyun Kim, Andrew D. Ryan, Timothy R. Church, Deirdre R. Green, Patricia M McGovern, Arthur G. Erdman, Rony F. Arauz

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Approximately 2.4 million janitors work in the United States. High physical workload may explain a lost-work days rate 2.7 times that of other occupations. Information is limited about non-physical workload factors for janitors and their relations to injuries. For this retrospective cross-sectional study, specially designed, pre-tested questionnaires were distributed to full-time janitor members of a union for two six-month sequential intervals. Questions addressed mental workload (modified NASA Task Load Index), job satisfaction (Andrews and Withey Job Satisfaction Scale), stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4 [PSS-4], and the Single Item Stress Scale [SISS]), physical fitness, and occupational injury experiences. Descriptive and multivariable analyses, with bias adjustment, were conducted. A decreased risk of injury was associated with increased job satisfaction (expressed as a risk ratio (RR): 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83, 0.97]) and increased physical fitness (0.89, [0.83, 0.96]). A highly suggestive increased risk of injury was associated with increased mental workload (1.07, [1.00, 1.15]).

Original language	English (US)
Article number	103132
Journal	International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
Volume	83
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2021.103132
State	Published - May 1 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This project was supported by the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety (MCOHS) , Education and Research Center, Pilot Projects Research Training Program funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under grant OH008434 . The contents of this effort are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or other associated entities.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

Ergonomics
Janitors
Mental workload
Occupational injuries
Physical fitness
Psychosocial factors

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Publisher link

10.1016/j.ergon.2021.103132

Find It

Find It at U of M Libraries

Cite this

@article{9d986e446eb043e8a0e75f18be217ea2,

title = "Janitors{\textquoteright} mental workload, psychosocial factors, physical fitness, and injury: The SWEEP study",

abstract = "Approximately 2.4 million janitors work in the United States. High physical workload may explain a lost-work days rate 2.7 times that of other occupations. Information is limited about non-physical workload factors for janitors and their relations to injuries. For this retrospective cross-sectional study, specially designed, pre-tested questionnaires were distributed to full-time janitor members of a union for two six-month sequential intervals. Questions addressed mental workload (modified NASA Task Load Index), job satisfaction (Andrews and Withey Job Satisfaction Scale), stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4 [PSS-4], and the Single Item Stress Scale [SISS]), physical fitness, and occupational injury experiences. Descriptive and multivariable analyses, with bias adjustment, were conducted. A decreased risk of injury was associated with increased job satisfaction (expressed as a risk ratio (RR): 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83, 0.97]) and increased physical fitness (0.89, [0.83, 0.96]). A highly suggestive increased risk of injury was associated with increased mental workload (1.07, [1.00, 1.15]).",

keywords = "Ergonomics, Janitors, Mental workload, Occupational injuries, Physical fitness, Psychosocial factors",

author = "Adam Schwartz and Gerberich, {Susan Goodwin} and Thomas Albin and Hyun Kim and Ryan, {Andrew D.} and Church, {Timothy R.} and Green, {Deirdre R.} and McGovern, {Patricia M} and Erdman, {Arthur G.} and Arauz, {Rony F.}",

note = "Funding Information: This project was supported by the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety (MCOHS) , Education and Research Center, Pilot Projects Research Training Program funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under grant OH008434 . The contents of this effort are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or other associated entities. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2021",

month = may,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.ergon.2021.103132",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "83",

journal = "International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics",

issn = "0169-8141",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Janitors’ mental workload, psychosocial factors, physical fitness, and injury

T2 - The SWEEP study

AU - Schwartz, Adam

AU - Gerberich, Susan Goodwin

AU - Albin, Thomas

AU - Kim, Hyun

AU - Ryan, Andrew D.

AU - Church, Timothy R.

AU - Green, Deirdre R.

AU - McGovern, Patricia M

AU - Erdman, Arthur G.

AU - Arauz, Rony F.

N1 - Funding Information: This project was supported by the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety (MCOHS) , Education and Research Center, Pilot Projects Research Training Program funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under grant OH008434 . The contents of this effort are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or other associated entities. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2021/5/1

Y1 - 2021/5/1

N2 - Approximately 2.4 million janitors work in the United States. High physical workload may explain a lost-work days rate 2.7 times that of other occupations. Information is limited about non-physical workload factors for janitors and their relations to injuries. For this retrospective cross-sectional study, specially designed, pre-tested questionnaires were distributed to full-time janitor members of a union for two six-month sequential intervals. Questions addressed mental workload (modified NASA Task Load Index), job satisfaction (Andrews and Withey Job Satisfaction Scale), stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4 [PSS-4], and the Single Item Stress Scale [SISS]), physical fitness, and occupational injury experiences. Descriptive and multivariable analyses, with bias adjustment, were conducted. A decreased risk of injury was associated with increased job satisfaction (expressed as a risk ratio (RR): 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83, 0.97]) and increased physical fitness (0.89, [0.83, 0.96]). A highly suggestive increased risk of injury was associated with increased mental workload (1.07, [1.00, 1.15]).

AB - Approximately 2.4 million janitors work in the United States. High physical workload may explain a lost-work days rate 2.7 times that of other occupations. Information is limited about non-physical workload factors for janitors and their relations to injuries. For this retrospective cross-sectional study, specially designed, pre-tested questionnaires were distributed to full-time janitor members of a union for two six-month sequential intervals. Questions addressed mental workload (modified NASA Task Load Index), job satisfaction (Andrews and Withey Job Satisfaction Scale), stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4 [PSS-4], and the Single Item Stress Scale [SISS]), physical fitness, and occupational injury experiences. Descriptive and multivariable analyses, with bias adjustment, were conducted. A decreased risk of injury was associated with increased job satisfaction (expressed as a risk ratio (RR): 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83, 0.97]) and increased physical fitness (0.89, [0.83, 0.96]). A highly suggestive increased risk of injury was associated with increased mental workload (1.07, [1.00, 1.15]).

KW - Ergonomics

KW - Janitors

KW - Mental workload

KW - Occupational injuries

KW - Physical fitness

KW - Psychosocial factors

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103404116&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85103404116&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.ergon.2021.103132

DO - 10.1016/j.ergon.2021.103132

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85103404116

SN - 0169-8141

VL - 83

JO - International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

JF - International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

M1 - 103132

ER -

Janitors’ mental workload, psychosocial factors, physical fitness, and injury: The SWEEP study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Publisher link

Find It

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this