Risk assessment

Question 1

What are standardised risk assessment tools?

Answer 1

methods to further assess and analyse specific ‘high risk’ manual tasks. Can be chosen according to what you want to further assess

Question 2

What standardised risk assessment tool measures weights?

Answer 2

Scales

Question 3

What standardised risk assessment tool measures forces?

Answer 3

Force gauge

Question 4

What standardised risk assessment tool measures distances?

Answer 4

Tape measure

Question 5

What standardised risk assessment tool measures posture?

Answer 5

OWAS, RULA, REBA, PErforM

Question 6

What standardised risk assessment tool measures manual handling?

Answer 6

NIOSH, ManTRA, PErforM

Question 7

When are standardised risk assessment tools used?

Answer 7

1. When identifying high risk tasks and postures
2. Injuries or discomfort/pain that can be associated with a task
3. When determining actions for risk control
4. Observation of the task indicates there may be the presence of a risk factor of musculoskeletal injurt.

Question 8

What is the OWAS?

Answer 8

Ovaka Working Posture Analysis System

Question 9

What is the OWAS suitable for?

Answer 9

Work that involves a large variety of working postures combined with heavy manual handling. Suitable for the analysis of physical work with clearly observable postures of different body segments

Question 10

What is the utility of the OWAS?

Answer 10

A simple method for quickly checking the comfort of working postures and provides and overall picture of the postural load caused by different postures in different jobs.

Question 11

What does the OWAS evaluate?

Answer 11

Evaluates the relative discomfort of a working posture based on positioning of the back, arms, and legs as well as load requirements

Question 12

True or false - The OWAS is not used to direct improvement in the working methods used in a workplace

Answer 12

False, it is used for this

Question 13

True or false - The OWAS assigns the evaluated a score that indicates the urgency of taking corrective measures

Answer 13

True

Question 14

What is the PErforM?

Answer 14

The Participative Ergonomics for Manual Task Program Risk Assessment Tool

Question 15

What does the PErforM do?

Answer 15

Provides a risk profile for nominated body parts involved in high risk tasks and identifies the aspect of the task to which control measures should be targeted

Question 16

What are the 5 risk factors the PErforM assesses?

Answer 16

1. Exertion
2. Awkward (and sustained) posture
3. Vibration
4. Repetition
5. Duration

Question 17

What is Exertion?

Answer 17

Body part subject to high forces, leads to fatigue and exhaustion

Question 18

What causes exertion?

Answer 18

Lifting, carrying, holding one position for a period of time, forceful grips

Question 19

What are awkward and static postures in relation to the PErforM?

Answer 19

Any postures where the body parts are not in a neutral or comfortable position.

Question 20

What is vibration?

Answer 20

Whole body and hand/arm vibration

Question 21

What is duration?

Answer 21

Time taken to perform a task once, or perform a task repeatedly without break.

Question 22

When is duration a significant risk factor?

Answer 22

When a task is performed continuously for 30 minutes or more, or 2 hours over a whole shift

Question 23

What is repetition?

Answer 23

Similar movements performed over and over

Question 24

When is repetition a significant risk factor?

Answer 24

When movement is performed every 30 seconds or less

Question 25

What is a risk profile?

Answer 25

Highlights the body parts exposed to significant risk factors and allows controls to be target to these risk factors

Question 26

What is the RULA?

Answer 26

Rapid Upper Limb Assessment

Question 27

What does the RULA do?

Answer 27

Evaluates the exposure of workers to the risk of upper limb disorders and assesses the risk of UL disorders based on posture, muscle use, weight/force of loads, task duration and frequency

Question 28

How does the RULA assess risk factors?

Answer 28

It assigns the evaluated task a score that indicates the degree of intervention required to reduce the risk of an upper limb injury.

Question 29

How can we identify hazards?

Answer 29

Self reporting surveys, simple checklists, direct measurement, observation and use standardised risk assessment tools

Question 30

How can we assess and prioritise?

Answer 30

use a risk priority chart

Question 31

How do we decide on controls?

Answer 31

Use the hierarchy of controls

Question 32

What is the hierarchy of controls?

Answer 32

1. Elimination - physically remove the hazard 2. Substitution - Replace the hazard 3. Engineering controls - isolate people from the hazard 4. Administrative controls - change the way people work 5. PPE - protect the worker with personal protective equipment

Question 33

How can we implement control measures?

Answer 33

Develop work procedures, communication and provide training and instruction

Question 34

How do we monitor and review?

Answer 34

determine if chosen control measures have been implemented as planned, check the chosen control measures are working and check if the new control measures have created any new problems.