A Comparison of Three Techniques for Quantifying HAL and Their Impact on the ACGIH TLV for HAL Risk Predictions

Details

• Personal Author:
  Dembinski K ; Kapellusch J ; O'Donnell C
• Description:
  Background: This study proposed to examine differences between ACGIH TLV for HAL risk predictions using three different techniques to quantify HAL: (1) verbal anchor ratings; (2) table lookup based on frequency and duty cycle of exertion; and (3) Radwin et al (2015) computation using frequency and duty cycle of exertion. Methods: Peak force, verbal anchor HAL, frequency of exertion and duty cycle ratings from 10,244 tasks performed by 1,784 predominantly manufacturing workers were evaluated. Data were obtained for left and right hands separately, and frequency and duty cycle of exertion were provided for all exertions and for "forceful" exertions. Each of the three methods was used to quantify HAL and classify tasks as below action limit (AL), between AL and threshold limit value (TLV) and above TLV. Results: Table lookup and computational HAL ratings were highly correlated (r2 = .852 for all exertions, and .926 for forceful exertions); verbal anchor HAL ratings were poorly correlated with tabular and computational HAL ratings regardless of whether all or only forceful exertions were used (r2 <= .647). Across all methods, agreement on below AL classifications ranged from 80% to 99%. There was less agreement for above TLV (16% to 80%) and between AL and TLV (30% to 58%) classifications. In general, computational HAL classified more tasks as below AL (low risk), tabular HAL classified more tasks as between AL and TLV (moderate risk) and verbal anchor HAL resulted in more tasks classified as above TLV (high risk). Discussion: The three techniques for quantifying HAL result in different risk predictions, but there is generally good agreement in identifying tasks that are below the AL. Due to its simplicity, verbal anchor HAL might be most useful if identification of likely low-risk tasks is itself valuable. For consistent classification across all three categories, time-study based computational HAL should be favoured. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Safety
• Keywords:
  Biomechanics Exposure Assessment Force MSD Musculoskeletal System Disorders Risk Analysis Risk Assessment Task Performance Threshold Limit Values TLV
• ISBN:
  9780969972679
• Publisher:
  International Commission on Occupational Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 5 ; Wisconsin
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  82
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052078
• Citation:
  Ninth International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PREMUS 2016), June 20-23, 2016 Toronto, Canada. Rome, Italy: International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH), 2016 Aug; :82
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20130901
• Source Full Name:
  Ninth International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PREMUS 2016), June 20-23, 2016 Toronto, Canada
• End Date:
  20170831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:86bbd1be29a3b8c689b55194348f07204545bc43e3d64e07e02ac75290b118c4f5f582ec87890b62741622dc31b43663fd36565de79868a6d1ef82f174538b2d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211678/cdc_211678_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 521.19 KB ]