Criterion: Physically Demanding Work

Version 1.0.0 | Status: Deprecated

UN conformity topic code:

Ergonomic Design

Requirements for ergonomic assessments and controls for physically demanding tasks

Full Description

B5. Physically Demanding Work

Code 7.0

Worker exposure to the hazards of physically demanding tasks, including manual material handling and heavy or repetitive lifting, prolonged standing and highly repetitive or forceful assembly tasks shall be identified, evaluated and controlled.

Elements to Demonstrate Compliance to RBA Code

1. Policy

Ensure company's health and safety policy includes physically demanding work elements such that worker exposure to the hazards of physically demanding work is identified, assessed, communicated, and controlled effectively.

a. Workers' exposures to physically demanding work will be identified, assessed, and adequately controlled through proper design, engineering controls, and administrative controls.
b. There is a proper budget and staffing allocated to conduct risk assessment, re-engineering, equipment and tools, and medical evaluations.

2. Procedures & Practices

Procedures & Practices are in place such that:

a. Adequate and effective risk assessment is in place to identify and assess the potential hazards of physically demanding work.
b. The risk assessment is updated when a Significant Change occurs.
c. An adequate and effective documented program to control the identified potential hazards of physically demanding work is in place and follows the hierarchy of controls.
d. Adequate controls to reduce or eliminate physically demanding work are in place and effective, including proper design, engineering controls (e.g., palletizers, lift tables, adjustable work platforms), and administrative controls (e.g., limiting worker exposure time, job rotation).
e. The program encourages and responds to early reporting of discomfort.

3. Controls & Monitoring

Controls & Monitoring should include:

a. Periodic ergonomic task analyses.
b. A review and trend analysis of the past 3 years of injuries related to the physical demands of job duties.

NOTE: If there are no changes to the facility or work set up, there is no need to re-assess. This "no-change" determination should be documented.

4. Records

Records are maintained including:

a. Risk assessment and analysis reports including worker input.
b. Documentation of the control program following the hierarchy of controls.
c. Records of early reporting of discomfort and the response taken.

5. Rating

Priority	Major	Minor	Not Applicable
No risk assessment or control measures are in place AND high frequency of physically demanding work is evident	Physically demanding work has been identified and risk assessment program is in place, but controls are inadequate	Physically demanding work is controlled and minimized, AND the monitoring program is adequate, but documentation is incomplete	No physically demanding work

Profiles using this criterion

RBA Assessment Program

VAP Full Assessment | 7.0.0

Pass Threshold Metrics

Metric: Ergonomic Assessment Coverage

Type: % tasks assessed
Threshold: 100% → Conformance
Threshold: 75% (>=) → Minor
Threshold: 50% (>=) → Major
Threshold: 50% (<) → Priority

Metric: Lifting Equipment

Type: % heavy lifting without equipment
Threshold: 0% → Conformance
Threshold: 10% (<=) → Minor
Threshold: 25% (<=) → Major
Threshold: 25% (>) → Priority

Conformity Alignment

Priority

Pass: No
Definition: "Critical non-conformance requiring immediate action"
Remediation: 30 days

Major

Pass: No
Definition: "Significant non-conformance requiring corrective action"
Remediation: 90 days

Minor

Pass: Yes
Definition: "Non-conformance with limited impact"
Conditions: Corrective action plan required
Remediation: 180 days

Opportunity

Pass: Yes
Definition: "Opportunity for improvement identified"

Conformance

Pass: Yes
Definition: "Full conformance with criterion requirements"

Related Criterion

1.0.0 (2021-01-01)

Changed

Initial historical baseline — Physically Demanding Work (RBA Code of Conduct 7.0): Earliest imported version. Worker exposure to the hazards of physically demanding tasks identified, assessed, communicated, and controlled effectively. Mandated adequate and effective risk assessment updated on Significant Change, a documented control program following the hierarchy of controls, encouragement/response to early reporting of discomfort, periodic ergonomic task analyses, and a 3-year injury trend analysis. Criterion-specific Priority/Major/Minor rating bands applied.