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ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Hand Activity

ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Hand Activity is a useful assessment tool designed to protect workers, who perform repetitive hand exertions for 4 or more hours per day. It is a specific tool, limited to single task jobs that demand repetitive exertions, separated by periods of rest. Contact Alba Ergonomics for assistance with ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Hand Activity at your workplace.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) All About?

Why Ergonomists Use the Hand Activity Level (HAL)

The HAL considers the force, frequency, speed of the task and periods of rest into a single measure. It is a specific assessment for repetition and peak finger force. Professional Ergonomists use the ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Hand Activity when more detailed assessment is needed for a specialised task involving the hands and fingers (such as in production line or laboratory work).

How We use the ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Hand Activity

Evidence shows that the revised 2018 TLV is an effective tool for predicting risk of MSD of the distal upper extremity disorders. When the Activity Level (AL) or TLV are exceeded, risk control is recommended (e.g., engineering controls and administrative controls) to reduce workers’ exposure to forceful, repetitive hand activities. If a task is above the action limit (AL) but below the TLV, that indicates a slightly elevated risk of MSD and control measures are recommended. If a task is assessed as above the TLV then this indicates a significantly elevated risk of MSDs and appropriate control measures should be prioritised.

Benefits of ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Hand Activity

There is convincing evidence that repetitive forceful hand exertions increase risk for occupational wrist tendinosis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Many other assessment tools, such as the RULA, and the ManTRA, may not be sensitive enough to the fine motor exertion, speed, or repetition inherent in some more detailed tasks. ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Hand Activity is a useful, evidence-based tool that provides the sensitivity needed in tasks that present more specific demands of the hand.

Links to Resources

Do you feel that ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Hand Activity may be a suitable tool to assess manual handling tasks and reduce the risk of Musculoskeletal Injury in your workplace?

Our professional ergonomists here at Alba are experts in safe, healthy, and well people, by design. Contact Alba Ergonomics to organise a consultation with Australia’s leading Ergonomists.

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List of Ergonomic Risk Assessment Tools

This list contains some common risk assessment tools used by Certified Professional Ergonomists

Welder performing manual tasks in the workshop.

Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA)

The Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) is a useful tool to screen and assess manual tasks that place demands on the entire body and can used in workplaces where a hazardous manual task has been identified or when work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are reported quickly and easily.

Truck driver performing repetitive tasks.

Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA)

RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) is a useful screening tool to assess manual tasks that specifically involve use of the upper limb and can used in workplaces where a hazardous manual task has been identified or when work-related upper limb disorders are reported.

Farmhand performing manual lifting of heavy goods.

Revised National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) Lifting Equation

The Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation is a tool, developed by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), designed calculate an overall risk index for tasks that require single or multiple manual lifting tasks to help evaluate the risk of musculoskeletal injury.

Plumber working in a confined space performing manual labour tasks.

Participative Ergonomics for Manual Tasks (PErforM)

PErforM is a manual task risk-management program based on participative ergonomics. It is an evidence-based program designed to recognise and engage the “experts,” talking to the workers who perform that task and involving them in a practical, solutions-based approach to reduce the number of musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace.

Waiter carrying two plates of food on one arm.

Manual Tasks Risk Assessment Tool (ManTRA)

ManTRA (Manual Task Risk Assessment), conceptually based on the upper limb Strain Index, was devised as a measurement tool to be employed by Workplace Health and Safety Inspectors to screen manual handling tasks and assess the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Manual Tasks Risk Assessment Tool (ManTRA) is a useful screening tool that requires no special equipment and gives a skilled ergonomist a quick assessment of the postures and loads experienced, broken down into individual regions of the body.

Crane operator preparing to move heavy goods.

The APHIRM Toolkit

A Participative Hazard Identification and Risk Management (APHIRM) is a toolkit for improving the risk management of musculoskeletal disorders. The APHIRM toolkit is a set of evidence-based procedures and tools for workplace users to manage risk of work-related musculoskeletal injuries and disorders (MSDs). It is unique in that is considers both the physical demands of manual handling tasks AND psychosocial hazards that we know affect MSD risk.

Factory assembly worker performing repetitive tasks using her hands.

ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Hand Activity

ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Hand Activity is a useful assessment tool designed to protect workers, who perform repetitive hand exertions for 4 or more hours per day. It is a highly specific tool, limited to single task jobs that demand repetitive exertions, separated by periods of rest.

Ergonomisst performing a risk assessment in the workplace.

Book an Ergonomics Risk Assessment

As Professional Ergonomists we follow a systems-based approach. We utilise a broad range of best practice, evidence-based methods to assess tasks. We consider these tasks within the overall job demands and provide advice to optimise human well-being, performance, and productivity. Contact Alba Ergonomics to book an ergonomics risk assessment at your workplace. We're based in Sydney and provide services across all of Australia and internationally.

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