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Reliability of ergonomic exposure assessment: comparing the Strain Index and the OCRA Checklist

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dc.contributor.authorPaulsen, Robert James, author
dc.contributor.authorGilkey, David, advisor
dc.contributor.authorRosecrance, John, committee member
dc.contributor.authorReiser, Raoul, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T05:33:30Z
dc.date.available2007-01-03T05:33:30Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.description.abstractOccupational ergonomists utilize a variety of observational methods to identify jobs that elevate workers' risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Internationally, the Strain Index (SI) and the Occupational Repetitive Actions (OCRA) Checklist are two of the most popular upper extremity exposure assessments available. Both are founded on similar biomechanical and epidemiological principles, but their approach to quantification and estimation of risk factor magnitude is quite different. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the inter-method reliability of SI and OCRA Checklist exposure assessments. An additional aim was to estimate the inter-rater reliability of both methods. Twenty-one cheese-processing jobs were video recorded at an Italian facility. Eight individuals with occupational health training were recruited to rate every job using both the SI and OCRA Checklist. Inter-method reliability was characterized using kappa coefficients and Spearman correlations, and inter-rater reliability was characterized using intraclass correlation coefficients. Strain Index and the OCRA Checklist assessments produced moderately reliable results, generally classifying the same job exposures to physical risk factors similarly. Systematic bias due to rater effects was observed, and a lack of individual rater familiarity with one or both methods may have contributed to this bias. Further, the assessment of multi-task jobs was associated with lower inter-method reliability than what was observed for simpler jobs. Inter-rater reliability of the SI and OCRA Checklist summary scores and exposure classifications suggested moderate intra-method reliability. Summary scores may be a reliable measure of exposure to meet the needs of epidemiologists and occupational health and safety practitioners.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierPaulsen_colostate_0053N_11752.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/79129
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectergonomics
dc.subjectexposure assessment
dc.subjectmusculoskeletal disorders
dc.subjectOCRA
dc.subjectreliability
dc.subjectStrain Index
dc.titleReliability of ergonomic exposure assessment: comparing the Strain Index and the OCRA Checklist
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineEnvironmental and Radiological Health Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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