Abstract
This study investigated the correlation between reported injury and illness occurrence, absolute aerobic capacity, and lifestyle/non-occupational risk factors in a sample of 212 young male manual material handlers. The subjects were selected from three locations in the United States (Southeast, Midwest, and West). Estimated maximal aerobic capacity was obtained for all subjects using a submaximal bench-step protocol. Lifestyle and nonoccupational information (smoking and exercise regimens) was acquired from the health history survey form. This investigation consisted of evaluating V02max with lifestyle regimens and their interaction, lifestyle regimens and injury/illness information, and with facility location. Analysis results indicate no significance between smoking or smoking/exercise interaction with absolute V02max. Exercise did demonstrate significance with V02max. Smoking demonstrated significance with injuries and with lost work day rate. Smoking also demonstrated significance among one of the locations sampled. Overall, this study demonstrated supporting evidence to existing literature that smoking is associated with injury. This study also associated smoking with increased medical case rate and higher total lost work day injuries.
McSweeney, Kevin P. (1995). Correlation of recorded injury and illness data with lifestyle/non-occupational risk factors (smoking and exercise) and absolute aerobic capacity. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1995 -THESIS -M337.