Validation of newly developed and redesigned key indicator methods for assessment of different working conditions with physical workloads based on mixed-methods design: a study protocol

Abstract

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.

Work Risk Assessment in the Tea Picking with the Key Indicator Method-Awkward Body Postures (KIM-ABP)

“…The key indicator method (KIM) is a method that can be used to assess the risk of musculoskeletal disorders carried out in manual handling activities in the workplace [8,9]. This method considers manual handling activities such as holding, lifting, hold back, moving, dropping, and carrying loads.…”

“…This method was developed by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) and the Committee of the German states for Occupational Safety and Health (LASI) in collaboration with practitioners, safety representatives, occupational health doctors, employers, and employee's associations, insurers. organizations, and scientific institutions [8,10,11]. KIM's assessment consists of four levels of risk exposure, namely low, slightly increased, substantially increased, and ii.…”

“…The tea picking activity is repetitive work and there are unnatural movements, so the measurement method used is the Key Indicator Method -Awkward Body Postures (KIM-ABP). The Key Indicator Method -Awkward Body Postures (KIM-ABP) assess activities with unnatural work posture [12]. The purpose is measuring physical workload to determine the correlation between work activities and physical workload experienced by workers.…”

“…The result used as recommendations to determine the actions needed for the health and needs of workers. The awkward posture can see from the following [12]: iii. Changes in posture can interfere with the normal position of workers.…”

“…Assessment of time indicator got from the total duration of each activity carried out by the worker [12]. The measure of time indicators is carried out on the work elements of cutting, moving, and collecting tea leaves in one working day.…”