AN OBSERVATIONAL METHOD FOR CLASSIFYING EXPOSURE TO REPETITIVE MOVEMENTS OF THE UPPER LIMBS

This article presents and discusses a model for describing and evaluat ing the principal risk factors characterizing occupational exposure: f requency and repetitiveness of movements; use of force; type of postur e and movements; distribution of recovery periods; and presence of oth er influential (additional) factors. For each risk factor, the author proposes a method of practical detection in the field, as well as crit eria for classifying and interpreting the results based on a critical review of the available literature on the subject. Numerous examples a re supplied to better illustrate the concepts presented. The various f actors considered are classified using numbers or indexes, so that the y can be integrated into a concise exposure index.