Biomechanical risk factors

Question 1

What is a hazard?

Answer 1

Something with the potential to cause harm

Question 2

What is a risk?

Answer 2

The potential outcome of hazards and the possibility of injury, illness, damage or loss occurring as the result of a hazard.

Question 3

What is a risk of working at heights?

Answer 3

fall from height breaking limbs

Question 4

What is risk assessment?

Answer 4

A process where you identify hazards, analyse or evaluate risk associated with that hazard and determine appropriate ways to eliminate or control the hazard.

Question 5

What are the 5 steps of risk management?

Answer 5

1. Identify hazard
2. assess and prioritise risk
3. decide on control measures
4. implement control measures
5. monitor and review

Question 6

When is risk management undertaken?

Answer 6

Now if not previously completed, when changes occur, after accident or injury and regularly at scheduled intervals

Question 7

What are the 5 biomechanical risk factors?

Answer 7

1. Forceful exertions
2. Awkward or static posturing
3. Repetition
4. contact stress/compression
5. Vibration

Question 8

What are modifying factors of biomechanical risk factors

Answer 8

exposure to cold and/or psychosocial stressors

Question 9

What is force?

Answer 9

A strong physical exertion

Question 10

What are examples of force?

Answer 10

heavy lifting, pulling, pushing, twisting, gripping, pinching, and handling heavy equipment, tools or products

Question 11

What is exertion?

Answer 11

the tension produced by muscles and transmitted through tendons. Excessive muscle tension can contract muscles to their maximum capability and lead to fatigue and possible damage to other muscles and tissues.

Question 12

What are examples of forceful exertion when lifting?

Answer 12

• lifting more than 35kg at once
• more than 20kg 10 times per day
• more than 10kg from a height below the knees, above the shoulders or at arms length more than 25 times per day.

Question 13

What is an an example of forceful exertion when pulling/pushing?

Answer 13

pushing/pulling with more than 8kg of force for more than 2 hours per day

Question 14

What is an an example of forceful exertion when pinching?

Answer 14

pinching an unsupported object weighing 1 or more kg per hand for more than 2 hours per day

Question 15

What is an an example of forceful exertion when gripping?

Answer 15

Gripping an unsupported object weighing 5kg or more per hand for more than 2 hours per day

Question 16

What is awkward posturing?

Answer 16

postures outside of neutral

Question 17

What can awkward postures cause?

Answer 17

can compress nerves and irritate tendons

Question 18

What are 3 examples of awkward posture?

Answer 18

1. Repeatedly raising or working with the hands above the head or elbows above the shoulders for more than 2 hours per day
2. Kneeling or squatting
3. Working with the back, neck or wrist bent or twisted
4. sitting with feet unsupported
5. Sitting at a desk all day with poor posture

Question 19

What is a static posture?

Answer 19

holding the same position or using the same muscles for extended periods of time.

Question 20

What can static posture cause?

Answer 20

restrict blood flow and damage muscles

Question 21

What is repetition?

Answer 21

performing the same motion or series of motions continually or frequently for an extended period.

Question 22

How many repetitions per hour is considered a biomechanical risk factor for the shoulder?

Answer 22

more than 2.5 repetitions per minute

Question 23

How many repetitions per hour is considered a biomechanical risk factor for the upper part of arm/elbow?

Answer 23

more than 10 repetitions per min

Question 24

How many repetitions per hour is considered a biomechanical risk factor for the forearm/wrist?

Answer 24

more than 1o repetitions per min

Question 25

How many repetitions per hour is considered a biomechanical risk factor for the finger?

Answer 25

More than 200 repetitions per minute

Question 26

What is compression/compact stress?

Answer 26

pressing the body or part of the body against hard surfaces or edges.

Question 27

What can compression cause?

Answer 27

can concentrate force on a small area of the body, reduce blood flow and nerve transmission and damage tendons and tendon sheaths

Question 28

What is arm/hand vibration?

Answer 28

Vibration in the arms/hands caused by exposure to objects such as power tools

Question 29

How much vibration is considered a biomechanical risk factor for the arms/hands?

Answer 29

Using vibrating tools with high vibration levels for more than 30 minutes per day. (chainsaws, jack hammer)
Using tools or equipment that typically have moderate vibration levels for more than 2 hours per day (jigsaw, grinder, sander)

Question 30

What is whole body vibration?

Answer 30

Exposure to vibration as a result of vehicles eg forklifts, cranes, buses, aircraft etc

Question 31

What can prolonged exposure to whole body vibration cause?

Answer 31

Can affect skeletal muscles and cause low back pain

Question 32

What temperatures can be considered a biomechanical risk factor?

Answer 32

Cold temperatures below 20 degrees.

Question 33

What is the risk of working at cold temperatures?

Answer 33

Nerve damage, adversely affect coordination and manual dexterity and cause a worker to use more force than required.

Question 34

What are the contributory factors of biomechanical risk?

Answer 34

1. Gender
2. Age
3. Genetics
4. Physiological status
5. Physical condition
6. Nutrition
7. Psychological status