Assessment of risk factors for development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (RSI)

Abstract

This paper describes an approach to assessing the exposure to risk factors for the development of work-related chronic musculoskeletal disorders (repetitive strain injuries) of the upper limbs and low back. Instrumentation has been developed that combines a video image of the worker performing the task with superimposed quantitative information on risk factors. A description of the methodology, the rationale for the quantities displayed and workplace examples are presented. Continuous monitoring with both muscle activation and video has been found to be useful for identifying risk factors for both acute and chronic injuries in many workplaces. The approach gives information on chronic low-level loading not easily identified with observational methods. The methods presented give quantified information necessary for exposure measures in epidemiological studies. They also give semi-quantified information useful for identifying risks and justifying changes as well as for presentation to non-technical audiences.