Work Intensity Assessment of Power Distribution Workers

1.
Background and research methods
This research aimed to analyze factors that affect the
work intensity of power distribution workers and how it threatens workers’
health. Research methods included surveys, interviews, field research and blood
pressure monitoring in workers.

2. Surveys
Approximately 2,500 workers (2,558) participated in the
survey and 2,189 survey answers were analyzed. The majority of the respondents
were forty- to fifty-year-old live-line workers^[1]
and all of them were male.

Most of the workers (75%) reported working
for 8 hours a day, but there is a possibility that they excluded transportation
time and the time to prepare their work. Most respondents noted that they did
not have time to rest except during lunch time.

Approximately two-thirds (69%) of the
respondents answered that they often or always physically get tired on the job,
and 65% answered that they often or always get mentally tired at work. The
survey revealed that workers want a reduction of work intensity/workload by 33%
of their current workload. Live-line workers suffered from high work intensity
the most.

According to NIOSH standards[2],
1,670 workers with symptoms (76%) were grouped in NIOSH standards 1, 1,489
workers (68%) were grouped in the NIOSH standards 2, and 691 workers (32%) were
grouped in the NIOSH standards 3. In this research, standard 1 means the NIOSH
standard; standard 2 is the NIOSH standard with ‘middle-level symptoms’, and
standard 3 is the NIOSH standard with ‘severe symptoms.’ Approximately
one-third of the respondents were included in the NIOSH standards 3 category
indicating that immediate intervention is needed. Overall, these results are
significantly more serious compared to previous research on construction
workers who also suffer many workplace injuries.

Approximately half of the power distribution workers (46%) reported that they
had been injured at least once at work. Injured hands, fingers, wrists, arms,
elbows and shoulders were the most common injuries. One-fourth of the workers
(25%) said that they had to rest for longer than four days due to workplace
injuries. Slightly more than half of the workers (57%) received compensation
from the company owner for their workplace injuries (i.e., not compensated from
the government workers’ compensation system). One-third of the workers said
that their medical fees were paid by the government workers compensation
system. The most common injuries were bumping into utility poles, falling, and
being hit by objects.

Approximately half of the workers (47%)
reported working even when they were sick, and approximately one-third of the
workers (35%) said they could not call in sick during the last year. This was
especially true for live-line workers and machine drivers who often had to work
even when they were sick. This indicates that the companies do not have a
sufficient workforce.

Power distribution workers are aware that their jobs are five times more
dangerous than ordinary jobs, and they also recognize that the negative effects
of their work are 1.9 times higher than other jobs. Workers are aware of the
risks and they tend to think that an unsafe work environment can have a serious
impact on health.

Compared to regular workers, daily workers[3]
have lower access to safety- and health-related information or medical
check-ups, so there is a need for the labor union to pay more attention to
their safety. Respondents tend to think that the indirect live-line technique
was the result of a bureaucratic mistake. Although Korea Electric Power
Corporation (KEPCO) implemented the indirect live-wire technique as alternative
to the direct live-wire technique, respondents thought that after introduction
of the indirect live-wire technique work intensity increased. In their
interviews, respondents also said using the indirect live-wire technique made
their working time longer. The results indicate that more aggressive
communication and demand for resolution needs to occur with the KEPCO.
Solutions include easing work intensity by recruiting more workers, ensuring
employment security, and extending break times.

3.
Interviews
The increased work intensity of power distribution
workers is primarily due to structural and cultural practices that exist in the
power distribution industry. The relationships between KEPCO, the subcontractor
company and the subcontractor workers interfere with employment security among
power distribution workers. This puts pressure on power distribution workers to
endure intense work in order to ensure job security and wages. Although the
probability of accidents and occupational disease cases is high, KEPCO has
shifted the responsibility for these occupational harms onto private
subcontractors and power distribution workers. Due to the lack of safety and
health management systems, employees take sole responsibility for all kinds of
workplace injuries. This research indicates that structural and cultural
changes are needed in the power distribution industry. Solutions need to be
discussed among union members and followed up by the labor union to arrange
adjustments that will reduce work intensity.

4. Field
research
Four days of field research were conducted with a focus
on live-line workers but also including observations of dead-line^[4] workers
and assistants. All of them worked standing for the entire work day without a
break. Some live-line workers work on several different utility poles
consecutively. Dead-line workers and assistants also worked endlessly on the
utility poles or at their working position.

Since live-line work involves live
electricity at high voltage, there is always a risk of electrical shock
accidents. This is also true even when working on a low-tension cable which has
a lower voltage. The rapid work pace and lack of rest time and space increases
the risk of accidents. The only rest time occurred during lunch time, which
amounted to an actual rest time of approximately 30 minutes, which appeared to
be insufficient.

All three types of workers handle various heavy loads such as cables and heavy
tools. All of them also make numerous repetitive movements such as bending
back, turning, or twisting their hands, shoulders and necks, and this resulted
in health problems. Live-line workers are often also working at a significant
height at the top of electrical poles, increasing the risk of falls. Reducing
the work intensity is a matter of urgency.

Since power distribution workers work outside, weather has a significant effect
on their work. This feature of their work results in higher UV exposure, and
potential problems related to high heat and accidents due to cold weather.

The smart stick (also known as a hot stick^[5]),
the most controversial tool, is another factor that increases work intensity of
power distribution workers as live-line workers are required to use excessive
force to accomplish maintenance tasks. The smart stick is heavy at 2.5kg, but
workers felt it was much heavier because it required the use of another tool. In
addition, workers said using the smart stick was not helpful. They said that having
more workers, sufficient time and other tools are necessary to use the smart
stick effectively. It is difficult to determine its overall effectiveness and
safety considering the rapid work pace. Therefore, cooperation between workers
and the labor union is needed to find ways to minimize the risk of electric
shocks such as development of safe tools and protocols. In turn, this should
have a positive impact on the use of the smart stick.

Finally, the current safety management system in the power industry is
inefficient and does not meet its purpose because the required safety meetings
have been little more than a formality.

5. Blood
pressure monitoring
Measurements of ambulatory blood pressure for 24 hours
can indicate the prevalence of cerebrovascular illness and its mortality rate.
In addition, high nocturnal blood pressure can be an important indicator for
mortality rate due to cerebrocardiovascular illness. The results showed that 10
out of 14 participants (71%) had undiagnosed hypertension, and that 9
participants’ ambulatory blood pressure appeared to be nocturnal hypertension.
Most likely, many power distribution workers are not aware of high blood
pressure, indicating that workers’ regular health check-ups should be
intensified.

Nocturnal hypertension can imply that
workers are experiencing chronic stress. It is well known that in some people
whose blood pressure does not drop at night, it is highly probable that they
might be experiencing stroke or target organ damage, and cardiovascular
complications increase. The reason why the blood pressure does not drop at night is
that after release of hormones that react to stress such as
norepinephrine, cortisol increases and then the blood pressure stays
higher than normal. It is known that people whose blood pressure does not drop
at night have a higher risk of cerebrovascular illness. In this study, 7 out of
14 participants (50%) had blood pressure readings that did not drop at night.
Taken together, the results indicate that many power distribution workers who
think they are healthy are actually included in the high-risk group for
cerebrocardiovascular illness.

This monitoring was based on a single measurement of ambulatory blood pressure
every 24 hours and only on working days. One limitation of the study was that
blood pressure was monitored only on working days and not on days off. More
monitoring during working hours would be desirable and this would be a good
area for more research. The current results can serve as a pilot study to
stimulate preventive measures for cerebrocardiovascular illness among power
distribution workers.

6. Recommendations
This study revealed that serious musculoskeletal
symptoms are prevalent in power distribution workers and this indicates high
work intensity. Measures to prevent musculoskeletal disorders need to be
implemented including the right to be cured, to rest, and basic sanitation
rights. Companies need to find alternatives acceptable to workers that lower
the work intensity rather than unilaterally introducing working method changes
such as the indirect live-wire technique. Companies must stop the unilateral
drive to transfer to the indirect live-line technique that is regarded as one
of the factors that increases recent work intensity. In addition, companies
should upgrade the system for health and safety management to better protect
and help workers.

As noted above, approving workplace injury cases of musculoskeletal disorders;
obtaining the right to be cured; implementing measures to prevent
musculoskeletal disorders; obtaining appropriate rest time and work intensity;
and building functioning safety and health systems are all urgently needed. The
labor union has an important role to play to address these items including the
causes of increased work intensity by developing solutions such as recruiting
more workers and addressing employment security.