A comparative studies of ergonomics risk assessment tools for manual material handling tasks

Abstract

Manual material handling tasks are considered the most demanding jobs that expose workers to Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs), which have become a significant problem in the industry. Prevention of WMSDs is about proactively reducing risk by implementing Ergonomic Risk Assessment (ERA). Many ERA tools are used for Manual material handling tasks. The main goal of this study was to compare the ergonomic risk assessment methods used for manual material handling tasks, which present 3 elements: ergonomic risk factors, worker bodily discomfort, and risk level. This study compared 13 ERA tools commonly used by ergonomics practitioners in manual material handling tasks. There were Snook Tables, The Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (RNLE), Posture, Activity, Tools & Handling (PATH), Occupational Repetitive Actions (OCRA), Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) Checklist, Manual Handling Assessment Charts (MAC), The Assessment of Repetitive Tasks (ART), Ergonomic Assessment Worksheet (EAWS), Risk Assessment of Pushing and Pulling (RAPP), The Revised Strain Index (RSI), Initial Manual Handling Risk Assessment (I-ERA), and Risk Management tool for manual handling Proactively (RAMP) version I and II. The findings indicated that the existing ERA tools have a specific purpose and should be used in a certain way. Also, each tool has strengths and limitations and shouldn’t be used in every situation, and by this study, got to understand each tool’s primary focus. This finding can used by Ergonomics practitioners, union workers, and health and safety authorities who need information on the most effective assessment methods to prevent WMSDs