MSD Art Tool - Frequently asked questions

Why is ART not suitable for use in DSE assessment?

ART does not assess the frequency or repetition of finger movements, such as those involved in keyboard or mouse work. There are other methods that have been designed specifically for DSE assessment; for example, HSE's DSE workstation checklist[79]. This will be better at pointing the way to risk reduction measures for DSE work.

When should you use MAC and when should you use ART?

There is no firm boundary to define when MAC should be used instead of ART. Instead, there is quite a bit of overlap in terms of when the two methods can be used.

However, it is important to know that a MAC assessment primarily focuses on risks to the lower back. An ART assessment primarily focuses on risks to the upper limbs.

Consider making a MAC assessment as well as an ART assessment where a repetitive task involves manual handling of loads weighing more than about 8kg.

The methods can identify common risk factors (such as reaching away from the body). However, they might also identify some different risk factors as well. Using both methods will ensure you have considered the risks to both the back and the upper limbs.

Why doesn't ART consider the individual differences?

ART does not include a separate risk factor for individual factors. However, individual differences are considered implicitly during an ART assessment. For example:

  • The assessment of force and work pace risk factors requires you to speak to workers about how they perceive the work;
  • The assessment of posture is influenced by differences in the size and shape of workers;
  • The assessment of many factors will be influenced by differences in skill and competence.

To account for individual difference as much as possible, be sure to observe and speak to several workers of different size, age, level of experience, and level of skill.

How much force is a 'high force' or 'strong force'?

There is no simple answer because the level of force depends on many factors, including:

  • The weight of an object;
  • How the force is applied;
  • The strength and capabilities of the person who applies the force;
  • The physical properties that affect grip, such as the size and texture of the object and any gloves that are worn.

Other risk assessment checklists in the literature have used the following criteria to define a high level of force:

  • Pinching an unsupported object weighing 2 pounds (about 1 kg) or more per hand, or using an equivalent pinching force
  • Gripping an unsupported object weighing 10 pounds (about 4 kg) or more per hand, or using an equivalent gripping force

However, always confirm the level of force with the workers.

What other tools or techniques are available to help determine the level of hand force?

Sometimes it can be difficult to determine whether the hand force involved in the task is light, moderate, strong or very strong. There are other tools and techniques available to help make a more accurate assessment of the level of force exerted with each hand.

Borg CR10 Scale®

Some people may be familiar with the Borg CR10 Scale®. When using ART, the Borg CR10 Scale can also help determine the level of force exerted with each hand.

When using the Borg CR10 Scale:

  • a rating of 2 or less corresponds to a light force on ART
  • a rating of 3 or 4 corresponds to a moderate force
  • a rating of 5 or 6 corresponds to a strong force
  • a rating of 7 or more corresponds to a very strong force

More information on the design and use of the Borg CR10 Scale is found at the following link:

Borg's Perceived exertion and pain scales (BorgCR10)[81]

Why does ART not provide specific joint angles beyond which the posture should be considered awkward?

The assessment of awkward postures is intended to be a subjective assessment. Without measurement devices (eg goniometers), we must rely on observation and it is very difficult for us to make absolute judgements about joint angles for the upper limbs.

However, ISO 11228-3 (2007), "Ergonomics -- Manual handling -- Part 3: Handling of low loads at high frequency" ISBN 978 0 580 50582 9 does provide some joint angles beyond which upper limb posture is considered awkward.

Link URLs in this page

  1. MSDshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/msds.htm
  2. Back painhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/backpain/index.htm
  3. Upper limb disordershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/index.htm
  4. Lower limb disorders https://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/lld/index.htm
  5. Display screen equipment (DSE)https://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/dse/index.htm
  6. Manual handling at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/manual-handling/index.htm
  7. Overview - MSD toolkithttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/toolkit.htm
  8. Overview - MAC toolhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/index.htm
  9. Introduction to MAChttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/introduction.htm
  10. Developmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/development.htm
  11. Score sheethttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/scoresheet.htm
  12. Overview - Liftinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/liftintro.htm
  13. Lifting from pallet videohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/liftvid1.htm
  14. Lifting creels of wire videohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/liftvid2.htm
  15. Lifting control measureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/guidance01a.htm
  16. Overview - Carryinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/carryintro.htm
  17. Carrying from conveyor videohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/carryvid1.htm
  18. Carrying task in pastry factory videohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/carryvid2.htm
  19. Carrying control measureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/guidance02a.htm
  20. Overview - Team handlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/teamintro.htm
  21. Team handling pallet videohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/teamvid1.htm
  22. Team handling container videohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/teamvid2.htm
  23. Team handling control measureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/guidance03a.htm
  24. Psychosocial risk factorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/psychosocial.htm
  25. Individual differenceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/individuals.htm
  26. MAC assessment tipshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/tips.htm
  27. MAC FAQhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/faq.htm
  28. Overview - V-MAChttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/index.htm
  29. Advantages and limitationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/1-advantages-limitations.htm
  30. What you need to knowhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/2-what-you-need-to-know-before.htm
  31. How to use the V-MAChttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/3-how-to-use.htm
  32. Which jobs and workers to assesshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/4-which-jobs-workers-to-assess.htm
  33. Entering datahttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/5-entering-data.htm
  34. What does the V-MAC tell you?https://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/6-what-does-vmac-tell-you.htm
  35. Values in the summary tablehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/7-summary-tables.htm
  36. Recording and usinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/8-recording-and-using.htm
  37. Worked exampleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/9-worked-examples.htm
  38. V-MAC FAQshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/10-faqs.htm
  39. Overview - ART toolhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/index.htm
  40. What is the ART toolhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/whatis.htm
  41. Overview - Learning to use the ART toolhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/learning.htm
  42. Preparationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/preparation.htm
  43. Risk factorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/riskfactors.htm
  44. Observationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/observation.htm
  45. Overview - Making an assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/assessment.htm
  46. Task descriptionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/task.htm
  47. Overview - Assessment guidehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/assessguide.htm
  48. A. Frequency and repetition of movementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/freqrep.htm
  49. B. Forcehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/forceassessment.htm
  50. C. Awkward postureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/awkpostures.htm
  51. D. Additional factorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/addfactors.htm
  52. Score sheethttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/score.htm
  53. A walkthroughhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/walkthrough.htm
  54. Overview - Try it outhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/try.htm
  55. Book bindinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/bookbinding.htm
  56. Jogging sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/jogging.htm
  57. Collating papershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/papers.htm
  58. Whisky carton assemblyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/cartonassembly.htm
  59. Croissant curlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/croissant.htm
  60. Overview - Analysis and actionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/analysis.htm
  61. What the scores meanhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/scoresmean.htm
  62. Analysing task rotationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/rotation.htm
  63. Overview - Taking actionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/action.htm
  64. Repetitionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/repetition.htm
  65. Forcehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/force.htm
  66. Posturehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/posture.htm
  67. Durationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/duration.htm
  68. Physical environmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/environment.htm
  69. Psychosocial issueshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/psychosocial.htm
  70. Art Tool Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/resources.htm
  71. Frequently asked questionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/faq.htm
  72. Overview - RAPP toolhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/pushpull/index.htm
  73. Push/pull riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/pushpull/risks.htm
  74. Push/pull risk assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/pushpull/assessment.htm
  75. The lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/legislation.htm
  76. Health monitoringhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/health-monitoring.htm
  77. Workershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/workers-msds.htm
  78. Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/resources.htm
  79. DSE workstation checklisthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.htm
  80. Visit the DSE pagehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/index.htm
  81. Borg's Perceived exertion and pain scales (BorgCR10)https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306039034/download
  82. Download the ART tool https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg438.pdf
  83. Upper limb disorders in the workplacehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg60.htm

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Updated: 2021-01-27