Assessing work-related body-part discomfort: Current strategies and a behaviorally oriented assessment tool

Work-related body-part discomfort has been assessed for a variety of purposes in both experimental and applied research. In a number of these studies, 'discomfort' is assessed using a body map and a rat:ng, or ranking, procedure. Sometimes the assessed values are subjected to direct statistical investigation; at other times the assessed values are used to derive indices of discomfort which are then subjected to statistical study. However, the construct of 'discomfort' is rarely clearly defined. Thus, depending on the nature of the investigation, the respondent's perceptions, and the instructions provided, it may incorporate a variety of physical sensations including pain, fatigue, tension, and tingling. This paper describes ways in which work-related body-part discomfort has been defined, assessed, and used. It concludes with a tool for assessing work-related body-part discomfort. This tool includes a body map and scales for assessing the severity, frequency, and duration of work-related body-part discomfort, and incorporates many of the key features identified in this literature review. Relevance to industry Work-related body-part discomfort is a multidimensional phenomenon. Assessment using a body map and scales for severity, frequency, and duration should make it possible to differentiate between widespread workplace discomfort which can be addressed through engineering and/or administrative strategies, and idiosyncratic discomfort which may require a more individualized strategy.