Recorded presentation

Darius D. Sivin, PhD, Health & Safety Department, International Union, UAW, 8000 East Jefferson, Detroit, MI 48214, 313-926-5563, dsivin@uaw.net

The United Auto Workers and DaimlerChrysler have developed a screening tool to identify ergonomic risk factors in auto industry jobs. A pilot evaluation was conducted in an assembly plant, a stamping plant, a powertrain plant and a parts depot. In each plant, 10 jobs were each evaluated by one management ergonomist and one hourly UAW ergonomic analyst. Out of 30 risk factors tested for agreement between the management ergonomist and the hourly analyst, 8 had kappa statistics that were significantly greater than zero, where 1.5 would have been expected by chance. Unfortunately, in this first pilot evaluation, higher scores failed to predict greater risks of MSDs (UAW analysts: Spearman's rho = -0.72, p=0.66 DCX ergonomists: Spearman's rho = - 0.64, p=0.71).

In a second evaluation, undertaken after the checklist had been used in the plants for approximately six months, twenty jobs from a plant from in each division were again evaluated. One UAW evaluator and one DaimlerChrysler evaluator conducted the evaluations across all four plants. Agreement could not be tested scientifically because the two observed the jobs together and discussed how to score each risk factor. However, the predictive value for OSHA recordable MSDs was much better (Spearman's rho = 0.23, p=0.04).

Conclusions: The ErgoPAL can be a useful screening tool when used by a well trained analyst. Analysts in the plants need continued training. Additional evaluations would be useful to track improvement in analyst performance.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will know

• What makes a good ergonomics joba hazard analysis screening tool.
• The strengths and weaknesses of the UAW-DaimlerChrysler tool.

Keywords: Ergonomics, Occupational Exposure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The checklist is the joint property of the United Auto Workers and DaimlerChrysler. Niether entity receives revenue from the checklist.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation