Identifying Risk Factors
Screening for Risk Factors
Screening jobs for physical and psychological risk factors is very proactive and should involve one or more of the following:
- Surveys: Walk-through observational surveys of the work facilities to detect obvious risk factors
- Interviews: Interviews with workers and supervisors to obtain the above information and other data not apparent in walk-through observations such as; time and workload pressures, length of rest breaks, etc.
- Checklists: Checklists for scoring job features against a list of risk factors
A great deal of research has been conducted to identify workplace factors that contribute to the development of musculoskeletal disorders.
NIOSH has recently summarized the epidemiological studies that show a relationship between specific work activities and the development of musculoskeletal disorders.
Examples risk factors for MSDs include the following.
Strains and Sprains OUCH!
- Repetitive motions: performance of the same motion or motion patterns every few seconds for more than two hours at a time.
- Awkward postures: fixed or awkward work postures such as overhead work, twisted or bent back, bent wrist, stooping, or squatting, for more than a total of two hours.
- Vibration: use of vibrating or impact tools or equipment for more than a total of two hours.
- Loads/lifted: lifting, lowering, or carrying of anything weighing more than 25 pounds (11.34 kg) more than once during the work shift.
- Loads/static: holding a fixed or awkward position with arms or neck for more than ten seconds.
- Duration: infrequent vs. continually pulling or pushing objects.
- Work pace: piece rate or machine paced work for more than four hours at a time (legally required breaks cannot be included when totaling the four hour limit).
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-1. Screening jobs for physical and psychological risk factors should involve _____.
You forgot to answer the question!