The ErgoPlus Job Screen was developed to provide a quick and simple method to screen jobs with a goal of identifying job tasks that have moderate or high risk levels for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD).
The Job Screen tool has three primary outputs.
First, the Job Screen score on the top line of the results page provides an overall risk score at the job level, which can be used to quantify the overall risk of the job and to compare jobs across a department or facility wide.
Second, the body segment scores (displayed both numerically and graphically) are an indication of the level of risk for each body segment evaluated.
And third, difficult job tasks are identified and saved so they can be evaluated further.
Job Screen Overview
This is a simple screening tool designed to be a quick evaluation of the exertion levels required by the job and to identify moderate and high-risk tasks to be evaluated further. The tool is subjective in nature and “best judgement” should be utilized in selecting the appropriate scores and ratings based on the requirements of the job.
The Job Screen should be conducted quickly and efficiently, so don’t over think or analyze – simply use your best judgement after evaluating the key job tasks along with the Job Screen scoring selection criteria.
Now let’s walk through the Job Screen step-by-step.
- Identify Key Tasks
- Body Segment Evaluation
- Additional Risk Factors
- Exposure Duration
Note: If you’d like to go through this guide while using the actual Job Screen yourself, you can get free access to the tool when you start a free 30-day trial of ErgoPlus Industrial. Here’s the link to sign up.
Step 1: Identify Key Tasks
The evaluator should first prepare for the Job Screen assessment by interviewing the worker being evaluated and possibly others (supervisor, group leader, other experienced workers) to gain an understanding of the essential job tasks and observing the worker’s exertions, movements and postures during a few work cycles.
Selection of the tasks to be evaluated should be based on:
- Tasks with the most difficult and highest exertion (force load),
- Tasks that require the most awkward (deviated) repetitive or sustained postures,
- Highly repetitive tasks, and
- Tasks that involve any moderate to high levels of vibration, contact stress, or impact force.
Step 2: Body Segment Evaluation
The next step is to complete the body segment evaluation. The Job Screen considers all essential tasks and evaluates the MSD risk level for nine body segments:
- Neck / Upper Back
- R Upper Arm / Shoulder
- L Upper Arm / Shoulder
- R Forearm / Elbow
- L Forearm / Elbow
- R Wrist / Fingers
- L Wrist / Fingers
- Trunk / Lower Back
- Legs
The Job Screen also provides for an assessment of additional risk factors such as vibration, contact stress, impact stress – as well as exposure duration.
Three primary ergonomic risk factors (force, posture, and repetition) are evaluated and scored for each of the nine body segments. Multipliers are then used to calculate an exertion index and body segment scores.
Force
To determine the force scoring for each body segment, the evaluator will choose a score from the body segment rating scales outlined in the calculator. The score will be between 1 – 5 as pictured on the slide. The selection should be an estimate of the exertion level or effort required to perform the highest exertion tasks required by the job.
The force score selected should answer the question, “When performing the key tasks of this job, what is the highest level of exertion effort required for the body segment being evaluated?” This method for force determination uses rating guidance for perceived exertion adapted from the Job Strain Index (1) and the Borg scale (2,3) along with force/load guidance from ErgoPlus.
Each body segment has unique rating criteria for force which – again- can be viewed in the calculator when performing an assessment. The forearm / elbow force rating guidance is shown on this slide.
Posture
To determine the posture scoring for each body segment, the evaluator will choose one of four posture rating scores:
1 – Good Near Neutral
2 – Fair Slight Deviation
3 – Poor Marked Deviation
4 – Very Poor Extreme Deviation
The selection should be based on the most deviated postures (sustained or repeated) required to perform the essential and most demanding tasks of the job.
The posture score selected should answer the question, “When performing the key tasks of this job, what is the most deviated (awkward) posture required for the body segment being evaluated?” Each body segment has a unique rating criteria for posture which can be viewed in the calculator when performing an assessment – the upper arm and shoulder posture rating criteria is pictured on this slide.
Repetition
To determine the repetition scoring for each body segment, the evaluator will choose a score from the body segment rating scales outlined in the tool. The score will be between 1 – 5 as shown in this example.
The repetition score selection should be based on an estimate of the total number of forceful or awkward posture exertions. We recommend including tasks that score 3 or higher for force or posture, which could include multiple job tasks for the body segment being evaluated.
The repetition score answers the question, “When performing the key tasks of this job, what is the repetition level required to perform all awkward postures or forceful exertions for the body segment being evaluated?” Each body segment has a unique rating criteria for repetition which can be viewed in the calculator when performing an assessment – the wrist & fingers repetition rating criteria is pictured on this slide.
Step 3: Additional Risk Factors
The next step is to conduct a review of additional risk factors.
In addition to the body segment assessment, the job screen also evaluates three additional physical risk factors:
- Hand-Arm Vibration
- Contact Stress
- Impact Stress
The exposure level scoring criteria for the additional physical risk factors are:
- Nominal: minimal exposure < 30 minutes per day.
- Moderate: 30 – 90 minutes total per day.
- High: > 90 minutes total per day.
Hand-Arm Vibration
Using power tools (screw drivers, drills, impact wrenches, grinders, sanders, percussive tools) that have moderate to high levels of hand-arm vibration.
Contact Stress
Local mechanical compression or pressure points of soft tissues of body against hard objects or surfaces. Such as: resting wrists or forearms on the edge of a desk or workstation while performing tasks, pressing of hard-edged tool handles into the soft tissues of the hand, leaning against a hard or sharp surface edge.
Impact Stress
Repetitive impact of hand, base of palm, heel, or knee (such as using an impact tool, hammering, or using the hand or any body part as a hammer or to impact a solid object).
Step 4: Exposure Duration
Exposure Duration: The final entry that will be made in the Job Screen calculator is the exposure duration – which is the number of hours per day that the worker performs the job that you are evaluating. Select the duration exposure for the job from one of the following:
- < 2 hours per day
- 2-4 hours per day
- 4-8 hours per day
- > 8 hours per day
Job Screen Example
Step 1: Identify Key Tasks
Step 1: Identify and document the most demanding tasks identified by supervisor/worker interviews and job observation. You may add or subtract from this list during or after the Job Screen scoring is completed.
The selection of the tasks to be evaluated should be based on:
- The most difficult and highest exertion (force load) tasks,
- The most awkward (deviated) repetitive or sustained postures,
- Highly repetitive tasks, and
- Tasks that involve any moderate to high levels of vibration, contact stress, or impact force.
Die Casting Packout key tasks identified:
- Using file to remove flash off casting.
- Using hammer to knock off excess flash.
- Lift part off work bench.
- Turn and carry part.
- Lower and place part into finished parts pack out container.
Step 2: Body Segment Evaluation
Step 2 is to perform the body segment evaluation to determine the force, posture, and repetition exertions on the body segment being evaluated.
Neck/Upper Back
This slide shows the Neck/Upper back evaluation:
The force score selected should answer the question, “When performing the key tasks of this job, what is the highest level of exertion effort required for the body segment being evaluated?”
In this example, the force score is 3 – or moderate – due to forward bending of the neck and the requirement of a hard hat for PPE which weighs between 1 – 2 pounds.
The posture score selected should answer the question, “When performing the key tasks of this job, what is the most deviated (awkward) posture required for the body segment being evaluated?”
The posture score in this example is 3 or poor – requiring >20 degrees of forward flexion of the neck.
The repetition score answers the question, “When performing the key tasks of this job, what is the repetition level required to perform all awkward postures or forceful exertions for the body segment being evaluated?” So in this example, the neck repetition score is 4 or high – indicating 4-5 reps per minute or sustained posture of 5-10 seconds. Remember that the repetition score selection should be based on an estimate of the total number of forceful or awkward posture exertions.
We recommend including tasks that score 3 or higher for force or posture, which often includes multiple tasks for the body segment being evaluated.
After you’ve scored the body segments, don’t forget to identify and enter the difficult tasks so they can be flagged for further assessment.
Upper Arm/Shoulder
Right – Force score is 3, or moderate, indicating obvious effort being utilized. The posture is 3, indicating marked deviation of 45-90 degrees of shoulder flexion or abduction. The repetition score is 3, or moderate, – 2-3 reps per minute.
Left – Force score is 4, or hard, indicating substantial effort being utilized and >10 lb unilateral load when lowering and placing the part into the container. The posture score is 3, indicating marked deviation of 45-90 degrees of shoulder flexion or abduction. The repetition score is 2, or low for the lowering task – <1 rep per minute.
Forearm/Elbow
Right – Force score is 3, or moderate, indicating obvious effort being utilized when using the file to remove excess flask off the part. The posture is 3, indicating the elbow in terminal extension between 0-14 degrees of elbow flexion. The repetition score is 3, or moderate – 2-3 reps per minute.
Left – Force score is 4, or hard, indicating substantial effort being utilized and >10 lb unilateral load when lowering and placing the part into the container. The posture score is 2, indicating a slight deviation of 15-79 degrees of elbow flexion with no significant pronation or supination. The repetition score is 2, or low, for the lowering task – <1 rep per minute.
Wrist/Fingers
Right – Force score is 4, or hard, indicating substantial effort of an estimated 10-15 ponds being utilized when using the hammer to knock off excess flash. The posture is 2, indicating only a slight deviation of less than 15 degrees of flexion or extension. The repetition score is 3, or moderate – 9-14 repetitions per minute.
Left – Force score is 2, or light, indicating noticeable effort being utilized and < 1 lb pinch and <5 lb. power grip. The posture is 2, indicating only a slight deviation of less than 15 degrees of flexion or extension with no significant radial or ulnar deviation. The repetition score is 2, or low, for the left wrist & fingers indicating 4-8 pinch or grip reps per minute with no sustained pinch or grip.
Trunk/Lower Back
Force score for the lower back is 3, or moderate – indicating obvious exertion effort and an estimated 10 – 25 pounds of load on the back to lower parts into the container. The posture is 3, indicating marked deviation of 20-60 degrees of trunk flexion. The repetition score is 2 or low – < 1 repetition per minute.
Legs
Force score for the legs is 3, or moderate, indicating obvious exertion effort when the worker lowered parts into the lower levels of the container using a golfers lifting technique with a unilateral load on the left lower extremity. The posture is 3, indicating marked deviation and one leg raised. The repetition score is 2, or low – < 1 repetition per minute.
Step 3: Additional Risk Factors
In addition to the body segment assessment, the job screen also evaluates three additional physical risk factors:
Hand-Arm Vibration – Such as using power tools (screw drivers, drills, impact wrenches, grinders, sanders, percussive tools) that have moderate to high levels of hand-arm vibration.
In this example there was found to be nominal exposure <30 minutes per day.
Contact Stress – Local mechanical compression or pressure points of soft tissues of body against hard objects or surfaces. Such as: resting wrists or forearms on the edge of a desk or workstation while performing tasks, pressing of hard-edged tool handles into the soft tissues of the hand, leaning against a hard or sharp surface edge.
In this example there is moderate exposure to contact stress for a total of 30 – 90 minutes per work shift.
Impact Stress – Repetitive impact of hand, base of palm, heel, or knee (such as using an impact tool such as a hammer, or using the hand, foot, or knee as a hammer) more than 5 times per 30 minutes.
In this example there is moderate exposure to contact stress and hammer use for a total of 30 – 90 minutes per work shift.
Step 4: Exposure Duration
This is the final entry that will be made in the Job Screen calculator. The exposure duration is the number of hours per day that the worker performs the job that you are evaluating. Select the duration exposure for the job from one of the following selection options:
- < 2 hours per day
- 2-4 hours per day
- 4-8 hours per day
- > 8 hours per day
In this example, the exposure duration is 4-8 hours per day.
Calculate Results
The Job Screen has three primary outputs.
First, the Job Screen score on the top line – in this example, the total score is 86. The total score quantifies the overall risk at the job level, which can be used to compare job exertion levels across a department or facility wide. This score indicates very high MSD risk at the job level.
Second, the body segment scores are displayed both numerically and graphically. These values are an indication of the level of risk for each body segment evaluated.
And third, difficult job tasks are identified and saved so they can be evaluated further.
Give the Job Screen a Try
You can try out the Job Screen (at no charge) with your free 30-day trial of ErgoPlus Industrial. Sign up for your trial here to give it a try and be sure to let us know what you think!
