Occupational Postural Hazards in Digital Construction Management: An Integrated Ergonomic Assessment with Human Factors Engineering and Digital Human Modelling

Abstract

The increasing adoption of Digital Construction Management (DCM) has introduced new ergonomic risks for construction professionals who now spend extended hours on computers in dynamic and often suboptimal work environments. While existing ergonomic research in construction has documented musculoskeletal disorders among both manual workers and office-based personnel, these studies have significant limitations: they primarily rely on subjective assessment methods (questionnaires and surveys) without validated ergonomic tools, and lack biomechanical validation of observational findings. This study addresses this critical gap by integrating Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), and Digital Human Modeling (DHM) within a Six Sigma Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) framework to evaluate and mitigate musculoskeletal risks among construction professionals. A sample of 160 participants across 5 construction firms was observed and assessed through ergonomic scoring, biomechanical stress modeling using HumanCAD^®, and follow-up interventions. The results revealed that 87.5% of participants reported musculoskeletal symptoms, with neck and back being the most affected regions. Post-intervention evaluations showed significant reductions in ergonomic risk scores (RULA: 34%, REBA: 33.3%) and symptom prevalence (up to 46% reduction in neck discomfort). This study provides a validated, scalable framework for ergonomic risk management in digital construction roles and offers actionable design and policy recommendations to enhance occupational health and productivity.