Ergonomics Checklist
Materials Handling
What heavy materials or equipment are being handled on site – drywall, rebar, concrete forms, anything over 20kg?
QUESTION YES NO COMMENT
Do any workers have to lift more than 20 kg at
one time without help?
Do workers have to lift more than 10 kg often?
If yes, how can this be changed?
Are there handles to help carry materials?
If yes, are the handles easy to use and
comfortable?
Are workers told to get someone's help to lift
heavy materials?
Are there carts, dollies, or other aids readily
available for moving materials?
If yes, are the carts being used?
If no, why not?
If no, is the site clear enough to permit the use
of carts?
Are materials delivered as close as possible to
where they will be used?
If no, how can this be changed?
On what jobs do workers have to lift overhead?
How can this lifting be avoided?
Are materials stored at floor or ground level?
If yes, do workers have to bend down to lift
materials?
Can the materials be stored at waist height?
On which tasks do workers have to stretch to
pick up or lift materials?
Can the materials be kept closer?
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Tools
QUESTION YES NO COMMENT
Are tools sharp and in good condition?
Which tools are very heavy or not well balanced?
Which tools vibrate too much?
Which tools must be used while in a difficult
position?
Which tools have poor handle design?
• grips too big or too small handles that are too
short and dig into hands?
• handles with ridges that dig into hands?
• slippery handles?
Which tools require bending of wrists to use?
Do gloves ever make it hard to grip tools?
Are there other tools with a better design?
If yes, what are they?
Repetitive Work
Which tasks or jobs use the same motion dozens
of times an hour for more than 1 hour per day?
What are the motions?
Can the number of repetitions be reduced by job
rotation or rest breaks?
Awkward Postures
Which tasks or jobs involve work above the
shoulder for more than 1 hour per day?
Can scaffolds, platforms, or other equipment cut
down on the need to work overhead?
Are knee pads or cushions available and are they
used?
QUESTION YES NO COMMENT
2
Which jobs require workers to stay in one
position for a long time?
Can rotation or rest breaks be used to reduce
time in awkward postures?
Which jobs require a lot of twisting or turning?
Which jobs require a lot of bending?
How can the need to twist or bend be reduced?
Standing
What jobs require workers to stand all day,
especially on concrete floors?
Can anti-fatigue matting be used?
Is it possible to use adjustable stools to allow
workers to rest periodically?
Surfaces for Walking and Working
Are working and walking surfaces clean and dry?
Are the surfaces unobstructed?
Are the surfaces even?
Seating
What jobs require sitting all day?
Are the seats well-designed, easy to adjust and
comfortable?
In heavy equipment, do workers have to lean
forward to see/do their work?
Does the seating in any heavy equipment vibrate
a lot?
Weather
Do workers have enough protection from heat,
cold, rain, wind, and sun?
Lighting
Are work areas well lit to prevent tripping and
falling?
3
Is there enough light to do the work?
Are there areas where glare is a problem?
Is emergency evacuation lighting provided?
Production pressures
QUESTION YES NO COMMENT
Have supervisors or workers been under
production pressures that could lead to
shortcuts and injuries?
How could this problem be reduced?
More rest breaks?
More safety meetings?
A special safety rep on site?
Other
Training
What training have workers had on ergonomics
preventing musculoskeletal disorders?
What training have supervisors had on
ergonomics preventing musculoskeletal
disorders?
Musculoskeletal Symptoms
Do workers feel free to report symptoms?
Have any workers been reporting muscle pain,
tingling, numbness, loss of strength, or loss of
joint movement?
If yes, where?
Back____
Neck____
Shoulder____
Arm____
Wrist____
Knee____
Which trades have the most problems?
And what may be the main cause(s)?
Repetitive motion____
Awkward postures_______
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Fixed postures ____
Heavy lifting____
Not enough rest breaks ____
Other____
Do workers often appear exhausted at the end of
the day?
Solutions
QUESTION YES NO COMMENT
What jobs on site are the most hazardous for
musculoskeletal injuries?
Most hazardous jobs for musculoskeletal injuries
What has been done to get worker ideas to help
reduce musculoskeletal injuries on the job?
What can be done working together to reduce
these injuries?
What can be done to reduce the hazards or
make the jobs easier?
Proposed solutions
Most Effective Easiest to Implement Least Expensive
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Least Effective Hardest to Implement Most Expensive
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