Current techniques for assessing physical exposure to work-related musculoskeletal risks, with emphasis on posture-based methods.
Physical exposure to risks for potential work-related musculoskeletal injuries has been assessed using a variety of methods, including pen and paper based observation methods, videotaping and computer-aided analysis, direct or instrumental techniques, and various approaches to self-report assessment. These methods are critically reviewed in this paper. The applications of these techniques in ergonomic and epidemiologic studies are considered, and their advantages and shortcomings are highlighted. Finally, a strategy that considers both the ergonomics experts' view and the practitioners' needs for developing a practical exposure assessment tool is then discussed.
D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D019370:Observation / Q000379:methods; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011187:Posture; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014743:Videotape Recording; D016526:Workload