PATH (Posture, Activities, Tools, and Handling) Coding Method for Ergonomic Hazard Analysis

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  University of Massachusetts Lowell. Department of Work Environment
• Description:
  This Manual is intended for the training of PATH (Posture, Activity, Tools, and Handling) ergonomic analysis method. The overall purpose of this course is to give ergonomists: The capability to set up their own PATH coding system applicable to a specific industry or area .of concern for ergonomic hazards; The capability to train PATH coders; The capability to set up a database system to collect and analyze the PATH data. PATH is a work sampling-based approach to ergonomic job analysis. It was developed for application to construction work. Although PATH is not limited to construction, it is best used to analyze jobs which require whole body movements, on non-repetitive task-based work such as construction, agriculture, and forestry. PATH is excellent for characterizing frequencies (as proportion of the workshift) of exposures such as awkward postures, loads handled, and specific hazards associated with job tasks, activities, and tool use. PATH can also be used to look at multiple exposures (i.e. the percentage of time a worker spends in an awkward posture while carrying a load). It should be noted here that PATH will not capture exposures related to wrist and finger postures and the duration of each exposure (such as how long a worker held a static posture). This trainers' manual can be a very useful tool for identifying and quantifying ergonomic hazards. PA TH analysis can also be used before and after interventions to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing ergonomic hazards. Safer and healthier work environments will result by using methods such as this to identify, analyze and prioritize interventions. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Engineering Hearing Hearing Loss Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Mining Noise Noise, Occupational Occupational Health Safety

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• Keywords:
  Construction Industry Ergonomics Hazard Identification MSD Musculoskeletal System Disorders Posture Training
• Publisher:
  University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Handbooks
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-95
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20056856
• Citation:
  Lowell, MA: University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1995 Dec; :1-95
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1996
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities
• Performing Organization:
  Center to Protect Workers' Rights
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19920930
• Source Full Name:
  PATH (posture, activities, tools, and handling) coding method for ergonomic hazard analysis
• End Date:
  19950929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:804fbb3091b9ce5eb8defef1b927b053d548ad7de3371fcb78ef222834f9c8b0bff5fba464138a0ab92e9c7b9f73cf63b41409dcb21d520706f29736a3b1a5e7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/214354/cdc_214354_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.99 MB ]