Trends in Management of Risks Associated to Biomechanical Overload Based on New ISO Technical Report

Abstract: When studying WMSDs, several risk factors of different nature (mechanical, organizational, psychosocial, individual) are considered to be significant in general models of risk assessment and management and for epidemiologic purposes. As a consequence an “holistic” approach to their prevention was confirmed specially at international and national level when planning guidelines and interventions. On the other side there is a strong request, from OSH agencies and operators, for developing “simple” tools for risk assessment and management. ISO technical standard on “Ergonomics and Biomechanics” adopt a general approach to risk assessment and management according to four basic steps: hazard identification; risk estimation; detailed risk evaluation; risk reduction. ISO has defined a number of technical standards in the field of “physical ergonomics” regarding working postures, load manual handling, repetitive manual work (ISO 11226 and 11228 series) that in some manner take into account the contemporary presence of several risk factors. As a reaction to request from many practitioners, ISO has now completed a special application document (ISO TR 12295) to better clarify application procedures of the methods reported in such standards.

Keywords: WMSDs, Risk Assessment, Simple Tools

DOI: 10.54941/10036

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