Handintensivt arbete : En belastningsergonomisk kunskapsöversikt gällande människans kapacitet och interaktion med verktyg och arbetsuppgifter

摘要

Hand intensive work : A scientific review of human capacity and interaction with tools and tasks The state of the art regarding different aspects on professional hand intensive work is summarised in a broad literature overview. The main focus is on function and disorders in the musculoskeletal system of the upper extremities in relation to tools and work tasks. The work comprises brief overviews of basic anatomy, neuromuscular function and maximum capacity of the hand and arm. Different types of exposure (force, pressure, vibrations, climate factors, chemical agents) are described including definitions of repetitivity and interaction with psychosocial factors. The effects on the upper extremities are reviewed together with known risk factors. The state of the art regarding ergonomic design of common tools and machines is described. In addition to this the literature concerning problematic businesses and work tasks is reviewed. Appropriate methods for evaluation of specific exposures as well as over all assessment of manual work and tool use are described. Finally a number of knowledge gaps are identified where there are great needs for future research. Some overall conclusions: - The scientific basis for qualitatively identified risk factors is fairly good while the basis for quantitative risk assessment and limits is mostly poor. - In most cases a plausible cause effect relationship can be identified between exposure factors and disorders. - Shoulder/neck disorders are common in any hand intensive work extended over a major part of the working time.