MODULE 7

PROCESS FOR INITIAL ERA

7.1 Musculoskeletal Assessment

This musculoskeletal assessment should be conducted for all types of risk factor in order
to identify and validate the affected body parts.

In addition, a trained person may investigate any other complaint from the employee
concerned. For the musculoskeletal assessment, the trained person may use any
available forms such as Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Dutch Musculoskeletal
Questionnaire, Cornell Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, etc.

7.2 Explanation on How to Conduct Musculoskeletal Assessment

Appendix 1: SELF ASSESSMENT MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN/DISCOMFORT SURVEY FORM (Refer

to Part 2.1)

Instruction:

1. Tick (√) on any body parts (Column A) if you feel discomfort/pain during your work in the
last 12 months.

2. For those body parts you were feeling pain/discomfort, tick (√) (Column B) if in your
opinion, the pain is due to your work.
3.2 Ergonomics Risk Factors Assessment

The followings are results from ergonomics risk factors assessment.

3.2.1 Awkward Posture

The work posture of the employees should be observed using the checklist as given in Table 3.1, and
documented using audio visual and image capturing devices from various perspectives, such as from the
front, back and sides.

Table 3.1 Checklist for Awkward Posture

Please tick (/) Activities / Remarks

Max. Exposure
Body Part Physical Risk Factor
Duration
Yes No

Shoulders Work with hand above the

More than 2 hours
head OR the elbow above the /
per day
shoulder

Work with shoulder raised More than 2 hours /

per day

Shoulders
 Please tick (/) Activities / Remarks
Max. Exposure
Body Part Physical Risk Factor
Duration
Yes No

Work repetitively by raising

the hand above the head OR More than 2 hours
/
the elbow above the shoulder per day
more than once per minute

Head

Working with head bent

More than 2 hours
downwards more than 45 /
per day
degrees

Working with head bent More than 2 hours /

backwards per day
 Please tick (/) Activities / Remarks
Max. Exposure
Body Part Physical Risk Factor
Duration
Yes No

Working with head bent More than 2 hours

/
sideways per day

Working with back bent

More than 2 hours
forward more than 30 /
per day
degrees OR bent sideways

Back

More than 2 hours

Working with body twisted /
per day
 Please tick (/) Activities / Remarks
Max. Exposure
Body Part Physical Risk Factor
Duration
Yes No

Working with wrist flexion

OR extension OR radial More than 2 hours
/
deviation more than 15 per day
degrees

Hand/
Working with arm abducted More than 4 hours N/A
Elbow/ sideways per day

Wrist

Working with arm extended

forward more than 45
More than 2 hours
degrees OR arm extended /
per day
backward more than 20
degrees

More than 2 hours

Work in a squat position. /
Leg/ total per day

Knees

More than 2 hours N/A

Work in a kneeling position
per day

Sub Total (Number of tick(s)) 11

NOTE:

The total score for awkward posture is 13. Yes score of 6 and above will initiate an advanced assessment.

3.2.2 Static and Sustained Work Posture

Static and sustained work posture should be assessed through interview and observation of employee work
activities to determine exposure duration for each body part using the checklist given in Table 3.2.

Table 3.2 Checklist for Static and Sustained Work Posture

Please tick Activities / Remarks

Max. Exposure (/)
Body Part Physical Risk Factor
Duration
Yes No

Duration as per
Trunk/ Head/ Work in a static Table 3.1
Neck/ Arm/ awkward position as in
Wrist Table 3.1 (i.e. More than 1
minute
continuously)

More than 2 N/A

Work in a standing
hours
position with minimal
continuously
Leg/Knees leg movement

Work in static seated More than 30 N/A

position with minimal minutes
movement continuously
Sub Total (Number of tick(s)) 1
NOTE:

The total score for static and sustained work posture is 3. Yes score of 1 and above will initiate an advanced
assessment.