Citation

Winkel J, Mathiassen SE. Ergonomics 1994; 37(6): 979-988.

Affiliation

National Institute of Occupational Health, Department of Physiology, Solna, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8026455

Abstract

Ergonomic epidemiology is a rapidly increasing field of research providing data on the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders and possible risk factors. The present paper states, on the basis of a literature overview, that physical work load (mechanical exposure) is poorly defined and measured in most studies on ergonomic epidemiology. On this background the paper: (1) suggests adjustments of mechanical exposure concepts and terminology; (2) concludes that invalid exposure assessment may, to a large extent, explain the lack of quantitative data on relationships between mechanical exposures and musculoskeletal disorders; and (3) suggests some guidelines for future quantitative assessments of mechanical exposure in large populations.

Language: en