Ergonomic risk assessment

Ergonomic risk assessment model

Five-step risk assessment model for managing ergonomic risks that relate to manual handling tasks and highly repetitive tasks of the upper limbs.

Step 1	Task description	Spend time observing the task and consulting with those who do the task. Collect information on how the task is carried out. Take a video recording of the task and/or photographs of different stages of the task to gather important visual information, such as the posture of the worker when handling a load. Consult with the people performing the task to explain what you are doing and ensure that they are all right with it before you begin to video or photograph them. Identify the key stages of the task. Note: A useful tip is to review the criteria in the risk assessment tool that you plan to use for step 3 of the risk assessment in order to identify the key information you will need when using the tool. For example, if you are observing a manual handling lifting task and you are going to use the MAC tool, you will need to know: •         Load weight •         Frequency of lifting •         Hand distance from lower back •         Vertical lift •         Trunk twist/sideways bending ·       Postural constraints, grip on the load, floor surface and other environmental factors
Step 2	Collect technical information	Use a measuring tape to take all relevant physical measurements, including details of the load being handled and the work environment (e.g. height of work table, distance from floor to the top of a pallet). Use weighing scales to determine the actual weight of the load. Collect other relevant information to allow you to use the appropriate risk assessment tool. Review video recordings and photographs of the task and record information on the postures observed during the handling activity.
Step 3	Identify the risk factors using the relevant risk assessment tool and fill in the relevant score sheet information	Use the relevant risk assessment tool (i.e. MAC tool, ART tool or RAPP tool We will update post about these tools shortly). Using the technical data and images already collected, complete the tool’s score sheet. The assessor must provide information to support the score given for each of the criteria. For example: ‘The load is too heavy as it weighs 50kg and this results in a high level of risk.’ The score sheet will indicate the level of risk for each of the criteria and this information will identify whether there are any high-risk ergonomic issues to be addressed.
Step 4	Identify the improvements to be put in place	The employer has a duty to put appropriate measures in place to avoid or reduce the risk of injury. Appropriate measures will address the risk factors in a practical and effective manner. Appropriate measures include the introduction of mechanical aids or revised systems to eliminate the need to manually lift heavy loads. Such changes require consultation with all affected parties and an objective review of the information collected. The improvements put in place should avoid or reduce the risk of injury. They may be a combination of: •         use of mechanical aids for all or part of the activity, •         Reorganisation of work area or materials, •         development of a safe system of work plan, method statement or standard operating procedure, and •         training for those who carry out the task, which may include instruction on how to use a new piece of handling equipment or new systems for storing or positioning product.
Step 5	Review the effectiveness of the improvements made	Carry out a review to ensure that the recommended improvements have been implemented and that they have addressed the identified risk factors. The assessor may decide to use the relevant risk assessment tool again to score the task and to determine if the scores for the different criteria have resulted in a sufficiently low level of risk.