Affiliations: York University, Toronto, ON, Canada | The University of Melbourne, School of Physiotherapy,
Carlton, Victoria, Australia
Note: [] Corresponding author: Anne E. Moore, York University, School of
Kinesiology and Health Science, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3
Canada. Tel.: +1 416 736 2100 ext 40498; Fax: +1 416 736 5774; E-mail:
amoore@yorku.ca
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy
of three ergonomic assessment tools (EATs) (RULA, REBA and Strain Index (SI))
in the assessment of non-fixed work through comparison to four occupationally
relevant Borg 10 psychophysical scales: Lifting Effort, Grasping Effort, Wrist
Discomfort, and Low Back Discomfort. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen male rodworkers participated in this study.
The participants had at least six months experience and had no musculoskeletal
injuries in the six months preceding their participation. METHODS: Psychophysical scale and video data were collected while
participants performed non-fixed work on construction sites. Psychophysical and
EAT outcome measure scores were calculated for a shortlist of tasks. RESULTS: It was found that the perceived Grasping Effort and Wrist
Discomfort scales differentiated between the WMSD risks associated with
rodworking tasks and SI was found to be more effective than RULA and REBA in
the assessment of non-fixed work WMSD risks. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings of this study, it is suggested
that SI be further evaluated for its ability to assess WMSD risks associated
with non-fixed work tasks. SI presents results that have practical application
to non-fixed occupations and differentiate between tasks based on the WMSD
risks associated with the tasks.
