Defining Repetitive Hand Exertions for Exposure Assessment

Details

• Personal Author:
  Akkas O ; Bao S ; Harris C ; Lin J-H ; Meyers, Alysha R. ; Radwin RG ; Rempel D
• Description:
  Numerous criteria have been used for hand exertions (Stetson, et al., 1991; Wiktorin et al., 1993, Marshall and Armstrong, 2004; Bao, et al., 2006). Similarly, repetition has been quantified in various ways (Radwin et al., 1993; Moore and Garg 1995, Latko et al. 1997, ACGIH Worldwide, 2001). The Threshold Limit Value for Hand Activity Level (ACGIH Worldwide, 2018) exposure guideline has revised the criteria for hand exertions from the original guideline published in 2001, potentially leading to inconsistent interpretations of hand activity level (HAL). Repetition rate and duty cycle are therefore dependent on the category of forces considered. Bao, et al. (2006) observed that that different definitions of repetitive exertions lead to measuring different physical exposure phenomena and produce very different results. Furthermore, there were poor correlations between different measures of repetitiveness estimated using different methods. We compared observed HALs obtained for the NIOSH supported upper extremity consortium study against frequency and duty cycle computed HALs based on video records for the same task and applied different criteria for negligible, non-negligible, and forceful exertions. We defined an exertion as a visible hand or forearm muscular effort while grasping an object or applying a force (e.g. hold, manipulate, trigger, push, pull, or handle an object) during task performance, regardless of the force required. Exertions were categorized by their magnitude of force, ranging from negligible exertions (i.e. Borg CR10<1 or MVC ≤10% level of force), to nonnegligible exertions (i.e. Borg CR1>0=1 or MVC>10% level of force) and forceful exertions (i.e. pinch force >= 9N or power grip force >= 45 N, or Borg CR10 >=2). [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Biomechanics Body Mechanics Exposure Assessment Repetitive Work Task Performance Threshold Limit Values TLV Upper Extremities
• Publisher:
  International Commission on Occupational Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Wisconsin
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  69
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20063094
• Citation:
  10th International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PREMUS 2019): From research to evidence based sustainable interventions and practices, September 2-5, 2019, Bologna, Italy. Rome, Italy: International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH), 2019 Sep; :69
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  University of California, Berkeley
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  10th International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PREMUS 2019): From research to evidence based sustainable interventions and practices, September 2-5, 2019, Bologna, Italy
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f3710fea1845e8a3df168add1a9676f607c093a9708f8102975c0701e19d61c526e68d3b0552e08cadf8f0627e93a92f4c44ddfb6b003e740e0b14fa4a09c725
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/226217/cdc_226217_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 104.06 KB ]