A two-page checklist for determining the presence of ergonomic risk factors associated with the development of upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders (e.g., repetitiveness, local mechanical contact stresses, forceful manual exertions, awkward postures, and hand tool usage) was developed and evaluated as part of a joint labour-management ergonomics intervention programme. This checklist was used by plant personnel at four work sites to assess the presence of upper extremity risk factors in 335 manufacturing and warehouse jobs. In addition, results generated by the checklist were compared to the results of ergonomic analyses performed by persons with advanced training (Masters degree) in occupational ergonomics for a subset of 51 jobs. Most of the jobs included in the survey were found to have significant exposures to upper extremity risk factors. Awkward work postures were common, with 90% of the jobs requiring wrist deviations outside the neutral range-of-motion. The jobs were also highly repetitive and frequently required workers to exert high hand forces. Results generated by the checklist were generally in agreement with results generated by the ergonomic analysts; however, the checklist was found to be more sensitive in identifying the presence of risk factors. The checklist was found to be an effective rapid-screening instrument for identifying jobs that expose workers to potentially harmful ergonomic stresses. However, the checklist methodology did not include sufficient documentation of work methods to identify specific job attributes associated with these exposures.

A one-page checklist for determining the presence of ergonomic risk factors associated with awkward postures of the lower extremities, trunk and neck was developed and evaluated as part of a joint labor-management ergonomics intervention program. This checklist was used by plant personnel at four work sites to assess the postural requirements on 335 cyclical (i.e., work-cycle duration less than five minutes) manufacturing and warehouse jobs. In addition, results generated by the checklist were compared to the results of ergonomic analyses performed by persons with advanced training in occupational ergonomics. Workers were observed using awkward postures for most of the jobs in the survey. Awkward postures of the lower extremities were relatively uncommon, occurring in 25 percent or less of the jobs. Awkward postures of the trunk and neck were common, occurring in more than 70 percent of the jobs. Results generated by the checklist were generally in agreement with results generated by the experienced ergonomists; however, the checklist was found to be more sensitive in identifying the presence of awkward postures. The checklist was found to be an effective rapid-screening instrument for identifying cyclical jobs that expose workers to potentially harmful postures. However, the checklist methodology did not include sufficient documentation of work methods to identify the specific job attributes associated with these exposures. Furthermore, the checklist was not used to evaluate non-cyclical jobs (e.g., maintenance and skilled trades). Relevance to industry Awkward postures used in the work place may lead to worker pain and injury. The checklist presented here is a quick and sensitive screening tool for identifying jobs with exposures to postural stresses. It was effectively used by shop floor employees to analyze a variety of manufacturing and warehouse jobs.

Awkward working posture at the trunk, neck and shoulders may be caused by a number of factors, including: workstation layout, visual demands of the job, design of equipment and tools, and work methods. Because awkward posture is a recognized risk factor for the development of fatigue, discomfort, and/or disability, the elimination or reduction of awkward work posture is a major objective of many workplace ergonomic programs. A longitudinal study was undertaken in a large automotive corporation to evaluate the effectiveness of a participative union-management program in reducing work-related musculoskeletal injuries and disorders, including those caused by awkward postures. Following a one-week training program, plant personnel used checklists to evaluate posture on 335 jobs in selected departments at four participating plants. The results of these evaluations were used to develop an intervention program in each plant for controlling awkward postures. To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention programs, a subset of 151 jobs was tracked by an independent team of university-based ergonomists who performed comprehensive posture analyses at six-month intervals. The independent evaluation found that the labor-management teams were generally effective in reducing awkward postures at the trunk and shoulders. There were significant decreases in the time spent in awkward trunk and shoulder postures as a result of interventions that were implemented during the study. However, the teams were not effective in controlling neck postures as the frequency of awkward neck postures actually increased over the course of the study. Most of the successful intervention projects involved modifications to workstation layout in order to reduce or eliminate low, far, or overhead reaches associated with awkward trunk and shoulder postures. Interventions that required changes in product design or major changes in manufacturing processes were generally not observed during the monitoring period. Relevance to industry Awkward working postures can lead to discomfort or injury. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a joint, plant-level labor-management program in controlling worker exposures to awkward postures.