Repetition and static positions
You increase the risk of injury when you continually repeat the same type of movement or you hold one body position for a long time.
You further increase the risk of injury when repetition and a static position combine with forceful muscular effort (such as gripping a hand tool or squeezing a trigger). Accumulated fatigue can lead to muscle and other soft tissue damage.
Static positions include working with the neck bent forward for long periods or the upper arm held too high for too long.
Repetitive work is when:
- the duration of a work cycle is less than 30 seconds or
- a fundamental activity is repeated for more than 50% of the work cycle time and
- the work is done continuously for a minimum of 60 minutes.
High risk repetitive and prolonged manual tasks are caused by:
- work organisation arrangements that limit rest breaks and other opportunities for rest and recovery
- process and production work with little variety and limited opportunity to rotate to alternative tasks.
Health risks associated with repetitive work include carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis or golf elbow (epicondylitis), shoulder tendonitis, tension neck and lower back pain. Most of these conditions are difficult to reverse and develop over time; so do not ignore early warning signs.
People who are particularly at risk include those who are:
- new to a job
- returning to work after a long break
- not well matched to the work (such as a person with small hands operating tools designed for large hands).
Ways to control hazards
Some repetitious tasks can be eliminated by job redesign, however other repetitious tasks or activities of long duration can only be reduced by altering exposure through work organisation factors.
- Share the load - ask customers or clients to assist if possible.
- Automate the task.
- Change the task order - alternate repetitive tasks with non-repetitive tasks.
- Job rotation a task using different muscles.
- Restructure the job to allow for more variety.
- Allow for adequate recovery e.g. regular rest breaks.
More information on repetition and duration is provided in the Manual Tasks Advisory Standard 2000 (now known as a Code of Practice).
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