New comprehensive questionnaire for ergonomic risk factors identification to health and safety at work – ERIQAZ

Ergonomic risk factors are paramount in the preservation of worker health and safety, but identification in practice has generally been limited to a small number of mainly biomechanical risk factors. The primary purpose of this paper is to introduce ERIQAZ (Ergonomic Risks Identification Questionnaire), a holistic tool for the identification of ergonomic risks in the workplace. The research aims to support addressing ergonomic risk assessment limitations that presently self-identify as biomechanical and physical risks (for example, awkward postures and vibrations), but do not seek to include a comprehensive range of ergonomic risks. The emphasis in ERIQAZ is on 12 key areas of risk - ergonomic factors with physical, psychological, physiological, anthropometric, biomechanical, sociological, organizational, design-based, technological, personal, and biological components, including ergonomic risk factors based on the discomfort component. The questionnaire is intended to facilitate precise and holistic identification of relevant ergonomic hazards present in some work environments, especially in systems with high interaction between workers and work objects, tools, machines, equipment, and environments. Each of the 58 items in this questionnaire is measured using a five-level Likert scale to rate how often the worker is exposed to risk, and each risk item has defined effects on health and safety. Validation was carried out through expert evaluation (content validity) and interviews with workers (face validity), while the questions and the questionnaire met the criteria (I-CVI ≥ 0.8, S-CVI/Ave = 1). ERIQAZ has allowed for a holistic identification of ergonomic risk factors. It is practical for application in complex industrial systems, and will be a basis for preventive and corrective action. In addition, ERIQAZ enables workers to initiate assessment of ergonomic risks themselves, using the Likert scale that helps them take part in health and safety risk assessment, as required by ISO 45001:2018. Using this tool can assist in preventing occupational diseases, injuries and accidents in the system. It will also alert that ergonomic hazards affect people. The tool is expected to be of primary benefit to ergonomic professionals, researchers, and safety managers.