A New Methodology for Validation of the Ergonomics Risk Assessment in Industry

Abstract

In order to carry out an ergonomic assessment of the entire working situation in the industrial field, we have created and implemented an ergonomic risk assessment methodology—Ergonomics Risk Assessment Methodology in Industry (ERAI)—which takes into account a number of aspects that have a major impact on the physical condition and health of workers as well as on their efficiency. This study was conducted on 18 assembly line workers. ERAI identifies the level of exposure of the neck, trunk, shoulders/arms, wrists/hands and feet and can be used using printed forms, but it is preferred to use software that implements this method, thus avoiding errors. For this purpose, we have developed the ERAI software application that allows the management of the entire evaluation project. The main activities, the sub-activities carried out by the worker, together with the anthropometric characteristics are entered into the application, evaluating the posture of each part of the body, the effort exerted, the physical condition, etc. ERAI highlights the possible problems related to the physical condition of workers, e.g., there are three workers with a weaker physical condition, and the score for them is between 258 and 282, which is very high compared to the score of the other workers, which varies between 43 and 141. The results obtained with ERAI provide a correct diagnosis, facilitating effective ergonomic interventions to reduce the level of exposure.