IntroductionThe impact of work-related musculoskeletal disorders is considerable. The assessment of work tasks with physical workloads is crucial to estimate the work-related health risks of exposed employees. Three key indicator methods are available for risk assessment regarding manual lifting, holding and carrying of loads; manual pulling and pushing of loads; and manual handling operations. Three further KIMs for risk assessment regarding whole-body forces, awkward body postures and body movement have been developed de novo. In addition, the development of a newly drafted combined method for mixed exposures is planned. All methods will be validated regarding face validity, reliability, convergent validity, criterion validity and further aspects of utility under practical conditions.Methods and analysisAs part of the joint project MEGAPHYS (multilevel risk assessment of physical workloads), a mixed-methods study is being designed for the validation of KIMs and conducted in companies of different sizes and branches in Germany. Workplaces are documented and analysed by observations, applying KIMs, interviews and assessment of environmental conditions. Furthermore, a survey among the employees at the respective workplaces takes place with standardised questionnaires, interviews and physical examinations. It is intended to include 1200 employees at 120 different workplaces. For analysis of the quality criteria, recommendations of the COSMIN checklist (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments) will be taken into account.Ethics and disseminationThe study was planned and conducted in accordance with the German Medical Professional Code and the Declaration of Helsinki as well as the German Federal Data Protection Act. The design of the study was approved by ethics committees. We intend to publish the validated KIMs in 2018. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at international meetings and disseminated to actual users for practical application.
Bei der manuellen Handhabung von Sackware treten häufig stark gebeugte und verdrehte Körperhaltungen auf, die zu einer hohen Belastung des unteren Rückens führen. Hinzu kommen stark erhöhte Haltekräfte durch ungünstige Greifbedingungen und grundsätzlich hohe Belastung des gesamten Muskel-Skelett-Systems durch hohe Sackgewichte ab 25 kg bis 40 kg. Der folgende Beitrag beschreibt die Ermittlung des ergonomischen Verbesserungspotenzials durch Verwendung reduzierter Gebindegrößen bis 25 kg.
departments associated to heavier and less autonomous patient handling activity, were most affected by back MSD. Discussion Our investigation identifies biomechanical risk factor of MSD among nurses and suggests the necessity of preventive actions according to exposure leve.
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