Criteria for Assessing Exposure to Biomechanical Risk Factors: A Research-to-Practice Guide—Part 1: General Issues and Manual Material Handling

Musculoskeletal disorders are the most prevalent occupational health problem all over the world and are often related to biomechanical risk factors; to control these risk factors, several assessment methods (mostly observational) have been proposed in the past 40 years. An in-depth knowledge of each...

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Main Authors: Francesca Graziosi, Roberta Bonfiglioli, Francesco Decataldo, Francesco Saverio Violante
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Life
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/11/1398
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author Francesca Graziosi
Roberta Bonfiglioli
Francesco Decataldo
Francesco Saverio Violante
author_facet Francesca Graziosi
Roberta Bonfiglioli
Francesco Decataldo
Francesco Saverio Violante
author_sort Francesca Graziosi
collection DOAJ
description Musculoskeletal disorders are the most prevalent occupational health problem all over the world and are often related to biomechanical risk factors; to control these risk factors, several assessment methods (mostly observational) have been proposed in the past 40 years. An in-depth knowledge of each method to evaluate biomechanical risk factors is needed to effectively employ them in the field, together with a robust understanding of their effective predictive value and limitations. In Part 1, some general issues relevant to biomechanical risk assessment are discussed, and the method for assessing manual material handling after receiving more robust validation data is reviewed (Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation), together with a discussion about variability of tasks. Similarly, for the assessment of the biomechanical exposure of the upper limb, the TLV for Hand activity (ACGIH<sup>®</sup>) is presented in Part 2 of this guide, together with criteria to proportion risk assessment to the working duration in part-time jobs.
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spelling doaj-art-a308a8decd774f61a031b700f929a7e32025-08-20T02:48:03ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292024-10-011411139810.3390/life14111398Criteria for Assessing Exposure to Biomechanical Risk Factors: A Research-to-Practice Guide—Part 1: General Issues and Manual Material HandlingFrancesca Graziosi0Roberta Bonfiglioli1Francesco Decataldo2Francesco Saverio Violante3Occupational Medicine Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, ItalyOccupational Medicine Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, ItalyOccupational Medicine Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, ItalyOccupational Medicine Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, ItalyMusculoskeletal disorders are the most prevalent occupational health problem all over the world and are often related to biomechanical risk factors; to control these risk factors, several assessment methods (mostly observational) have been proposed in the past 40 years. An in-depth knowledge of each method to evaluate biomechanical risk factors is needed to effectively employ them in the field, together with a robust understanding of their effective predictive value and limitations. In Part 1, some general issues relevant to biomechanical risk assessment are discussed, and the method for assessing manual material handling after receiving more robust validation data is reviewed (Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation), together with a discussion about variability of tasks. Similarly, for the assessment of the biomechanical exposure of the upper limb, the TLV for Hand activity (ACGIH<sup>®</sup>) is presented in Part 2 of this guide, together with criteria to proportion risk assessment to the working duration in part-time jobs.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/11/1398biomechanical risk factorsoccupational diseasesmusculoskeletal disordersergonomicsoccupational medicine
spellingShingle Francesca Graziosi
Roberta Bonfiglioli
Francesco Decataldo
Francesco Saverio Violante
Criteria for Assessing Exposure to Biomechanical Risk Factors: A Research-to-Practice Guide—Part 1: General Issues and Manual Material Handling
Life
biomechanical risk factors
occupational diseases
musculoskeletal disorders
ergonomics
occupational medicine
title Criteria for Assessing Exposure to Biomechanical Risk Factors: A Research-to-Practice Guide—Part 1: General Issues and Manual Material Handling
title_full Criteria for Assessing Exposure to Biomechanical Risk Factors: A Research-to-Practice Guide—Part 1: General Issues and Manual Material Handling
title_fullStr Criteria for Assessing Exposure to Biomechanical Risk Factors: A Research-to-Practice Guide—Part 1: General Issues and Manual Material Handling
title_full_unstemmed Criteria for Assessing Exposure to Biomechanical Risk Factors: A Research-to-Practice Guide—Part 1: General Issues and Manual Material Handling
title_short Criteria for Assessing Exposure to Biomechanical Risk Factors: A Research-to-Practice Guide—Part 1: General Issues and Manual Material Handling
title_sort criteria for assessing exposure to biomechanical risk factors a research to practice guide part 1 general issues and manual material handling
topic biomechanical risk factors
occupational diseases
musculoskeletal disorders
ergonomics
occupational medicine
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/11/1398
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AT robertabonfiglioli criteriaforassessingexposuretobiomechanicalriskfactorsaresearchtopracticeguidepart1generalissuesandmanualmaterialhandling
AT francescodecataldo criteriaforassessingexposuretobiomechanicalriskfactorsaresearchtopracticeguidepart1generalissuesandmanualmaterialhandling
AT francescosaverioviolante criteriaforassessingexposuretobiomechanicalriskfactorsaresearchtopracticeguidepart1generalissuesandmanualmaterialhandling