Risk Assessments Using the Strain Index and the TLV for HAL, Part I: Task and Multi-Task Job Exposure Classifications

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bao SS ; Garg, Arun ; Hegmann KT ; Kapellusch JM ; Merryweather AS ; Silverstein BA ; Thiese MS
• Description:
  Background: The Strain Index (SI) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value for Hand Activity Level (TLV for HAL) use different constituent variables to quantify task physical exposures. Similarly, time-weighted-average (TWA), Peak, and Typical exposure techniques to quantify physical exposure from multi-task jobs make different assumptions about each task's contribution to the whole job exposure. Thus, task and job physical exposure classifications differ depending upon which model and technique are used for quantification. This study examines exposure classification agreement, disagreement, correlation, and magnitude of classification differences between these models and techniques. Methods: Data from 710 multi-task job workers performing 3,647 tasks were analyzed using the SI and TLV for HAL models, as well as with the TWA, Typical and Peak job exposure techniques. Physical exposures were classified as low, medium, and high using each model's recommended, or a priori limits. Exposure classification agreement and disagreement between models (SI, TLV for HAL) and between job exposure techniques (TWA, Typical, Peak) were described and analyzed. Results: Regardless of technique, the SI classified more tasks as high exposure than the TLV for HAL, and the TLV for HAL classified more tasks as low exposure. The models agreed on 48.5% of task classifications (kappa = 0.28) with 15.5% of disagreement between low and high exposure categories. Between-technique (i.e., TWA, Typical, Peak) agreement ranged from 61-93% (kappa: 0.16-0.92) depending on whether the SI or TLV for HAL was used. Conclusions: There was disagreement between the SI and TLV for HAL and between the TWA, Typical and Peak techniques. Disagreement creates uncertainty for job design, job analysis, risk assessments, and developing interventions. Task exposure classifications from the SI and TLV for HAL might complement each other. However, TWA, Typical, and Peak job exposure techniques all have limitations. Part II of this article examines whether the observed differences between these models and techniques produce different exposure-response relationships for predicting prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Ergonomics Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Workload

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• Keywords:
  Activity Levels Analytical Instruments Analytical Models Author Keywords: Job Evaluation Biomechanics Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Employee Exposure Force Hand Injuries Injury Prevention Job Analysis Job Design Job Rotation Medical-monitoring MSDs Musculoskeletal System Disorders Nerve Function Physical Capacity Physiological Measurements Repetitive Work Risk Assessment Risk Classifications Risk Factors Strain Index Stress Task Performance Threshold Limit Values TLV TLV For HAL Work Capacity

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• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Utah ; Washington ; Wisconsin
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  14
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050925
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2017 Dec; 14(12):1011-1019
• Contact Point Address:
  Jay M. Kapellusch, Department of Occupational Science & Technology, College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201
• Email:
  kap@uwm.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Performing Organization:
  University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20130901
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• End Date:
  20170831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4ea9fc855fb9868f8a9013b713f493da9e8f204a596de60c36e96278814adba785bc2f7352930a090ed25f26812781095d6f1bc03a1466949564bbad2f0cefc9
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211105/cdc_211105_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.13 MB ]