A walkthrough
This section provides a step-by-step walkthrough of how the ART tool is used to assess a repetitive task. You may find it helpful to print out and refer to a copy of the ART tool during the walkthrough.
The task that will be assessed involves packaging wrapped gingerbread biscuits into cardboard sleeves. The video shows a worker has to open a cardboard sleeve with her left hand hand, slide the package of gingerbread into the sleeve and then place the package across the table with her right hand.
Video
Watch the video for a few minutes to become familiar with the task. Then scroll down the page to see how the ART tool is used to assess this task.
Gingerbread packing video.
A worker packaging gingerbread.
Task Description Form
Here is the task description form that was completed at the start of the assessment. The form has been used to record some information about the task that could not be obtained from the video, such as the duration and pattern of breaks.
There is a shift duration of 8 hours. However, the worker rotates between this task and a different non-repetitive task every 60 minutes. In total, she packs gingerbread for just less than half of her total shift time.
Score sheet
Hover over individual rows for an explanation of each risk score
A1. Arm movements
Due to the continuous delivery of product from the conveyor the worker's arms are moving almost continually.
A2. Repetition
While the average production rate is 17 times per minute (Amber), the video shows the production rate is over 20 times per minute sometimes (Red). For this reason, an intermediate score has been selected.
B. Force
The sleeves and packages are light, and no particular force is required.
C1. Head / neck posture
The worker's head/neck is bent sideways and down for more than half the time.
C2. Back posture
The worker's back is in a neutral straight posture with no significant leaning, twisting or stooping. It may be worth considering a more appropriate seat design though, as little back support is being provided.
C3. Arm posture
The left elbow is raised out to the side for more than half the time when handling the sleeves.
The right elbow is raised for a part of the time as the right hand reaches to collect the gingerbread.
C4. Wrist posture
The left wrist is bent for more than half the time while gripping and positioning the cardboard sleeve.
The right wrist is deviated for a part of the time when placing the product across the table.
C5. Hand / finger grip
The left hand spans and grips the cardboard sleeve for more than half the cycle time.
D1. Breaks
There is 60 minutes of continuous repetitive work, before taking a break (ie in this case, rotation to a non-repetitive task)
D2. Work pace
The worker expresses they sometimes have difficulties keeping up with the pace of this task.
D3. Other factors
The work is done in a well lit environment, with no other reported issues.
Task score
The task score, calculated for each arm separately, is the sum of the scores of all the risk factors.
For example:
6 + 5 + 0 + 2 + 0 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 0 = 24
D4. Duration multiplier
The worker performs the task between 2 and 4 hours per day in total, and so a duration multiplier of 0.75 is applied to the task score. The exposure score is reduced slightly.
Exposure score
The exposure score, calculated for each arm separately, is found by multiplying the task score by the duration multiplier.
For example:
24 x 0.75 = 18
The exposure score can be interpreted using the table of exposure levels.
The worker performs the task between 2 and 4 hours per day in total, and so a duration multiplier of 0.75 is applied to the task score. The exposure score is reduced slightly.
For more information about how to interpret and reduce the scores, refer to the pages on analysis and actions.
Improvements
There are a few ways that this gingerbread packaging task could be improved through consultation with the workforce.
Automation and mechanisation
Automatic wrappers could be used for this task to eliminate the repetitive task. These may be expensive to engineer and the cost-benefit of this option should be considered.
Reduce exposure
Job rotation is used to minimise the workers' exposure to the risks involved with this task, without which the exposure score would be considerably higher.
Improve posture
One of the key issues with this task is the worker's hand posture. The design of the products and the cardboard sleeve should be considered. The use of a jig fitted to the bench could be explored as this may allow the worker to maintain a more neutral posture of the left wrist and hand. Training the operators in postural awareness and providing a system for early reporting of any ULD symptoms should also be considered.
Next steps
You should now be familiar with how an assessment is made using ART.
Several other videos of repetitive tasks are provided to practise making assessments with the ART tool. We hope this will help you to learn how to use the ART tool before trying it out in the workplace. Practise making assessments with the ART tool.