Some conditions that may contribute to employees developing MSDs
may be identified through review of injury records, job and work analysis, and
employee input, and may be obvious and not require further analysis. However,
more complex problems may require further analysis before an effective solution
can be designed and implemented.
There are a number of assessment tools available that may assist in analyzing jobs. The following are a
sampling of non-OSHA, off-site analysis tools you may choose to use. The listing of these tools should not be
interpreted, however, as an agency finding in support or rejection of any particular tool.
- Applications
Manual For the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation. US Department of Health
and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-110, (1994, January 1). Contains a
complete description of all terms in the lifting equation with several sample calculations.
-
Evaluation Tools. Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Links for evaluation tools in PDF and
Word format.
- Lessons for Lifting and Moving Materials.
(2000, February), 447 KB
PDF, 27 pages. Provides
pertinent information for safety professionals and manufacturing
supervisors on back anatomy, back injuries and methods to avoid the risks
of back injury. A checklist, Lifting Hazard Assessment Worksheet, based on the 1991 NIOSH Revised Lifting Equation,
completed with a score of 6
or higher means the lift is unsafe.
- WAC 296-62-051, Ergonomics (Repealed by ballot initiative 12/4/03).
Washington Administrative Code (WAC), Washington State Labor Department and Industries,
(2000), 695 KB
PDF, 18 pages. Includes WISHA Checklist for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders.
The initiative heightened awareness of ergonomics and generated a broader
discussion of this important safety issue. Both sides of the debate have
said that use of proper ergonomic techniques belongs in the workplace and
benefits employers as well as workers.
-
Manual Materials Handling. Liberty Mutual Research Institute for
Safety. These tables were formerly called the Snook tables.
-
Analysis Tools for Ergonomists. University of Southern Florida, College
of Public Health, (2007, April 1). Provides tools organized into four
categories: Basic, Qualitative, Semi-Quantitative and Quantitative.
- Push/Pull Analysis -- Adapted from Liberty Mutual
Tables. 110 KB
XLS*.
- Basic Screening Tool. 761 KB
PDF, 11 pages. Reviews risk factors of
those areas of the body affected by the MSD incident.
- Hand-Arm Vibration Analysis. 19 KB
PDF, 2 pages. Also available as an
XLS*. Analysis tools for assessing hand and arm
vibration.
- Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) Employee Assessment Worksheet.
(2004), 74 KB
PDF, 1 page.
Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Science,
Technology and Medicine at 202-693-2300
for assistance accessing PDF and XLS materials.
*These files are provided for downloading only.
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