The impact of a pre-shutdown work conditioning program at a petrochemical refinery: efficacy as a proactive approach for decreasing injury potential and improving worker functional performance

Abstract

Research supports the use of workplace exercise to improve worker performance and decrease potential for injuries. A review of the literature revealed no published studies addressing the unique physical challenges faced by refinery operators during a process-unit shutdown period. Since operators transition from several months of sedentary work to physically demanding work at shutdown time, there is considerable risk for musculoskeletal injury. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of exercise on operator job performance and injury prevention during a refinery shutdown period. The goals of the study were to assess the effects of exercise on operators’ perceived abilities in functional mobility, job-task performance, and to determine which exercises may have contributed to recognized improvements. Seventeen operators performed the exercises for thirty minutes each shift for one month prior to the shutdown. Upon completion of the six-week shutdown period, data from all 17 operators were collected. Descriptive statistics, T-Tests, and a Spearman correlation procedure indicated that the exercises positively influenced operators’ perceived flexibility (p<0.05) and their perceived abilities to perform shutdown tasks (p<0.05). The operators reported no injuries during the shutdown period. The most important contributing exercise components were identified as stretching and ball exercises.