Quick Exposure Check (QEC)
QEC has been designed to:
assess the changes in exposure to musculoskeletal risk factors of the back, shoulders
and arms, hands and wrists, and neck before and after an ergonomic intervention
involve the practitioner (i.e. the observer) who conducts the assessment,
and the worker who has direct experience of the task
indicate change in exposure scores following an intervention
The QEC Guide gives more detailed information about each question and the background to QEC.
Worker’s name:
Worker’s job title:
Task:
Assessment conducted by:
Date: Time:
Action(s) required:
For more information on the Quick Exposure Check contact:
The Robens Centre for Health Ergonomics
European Institute of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7TE
Telephone 01483 689 213
www.surrey.ac.uk/robens/erg © Copyright University of Surrey
Worker’s name Date
Observer’s Assessment Worker’s Assessment
Back Workers
A When performing the task, is the back H Is the maximum weight handled
(select worse case situation)
MANUALLY BY YOU in this task?
A1 Almost neutral?
H1 Light (5 kg or less)
A2 Moderately flexed or twisted or side bent?
H2 Moderate (6 to 10 kg)
A3 Excessively flexed or twisted or side bent?
H3 Heavy (11 to 20kg)
B Select ONLY ONE of the two following task options: H4 Very heavy (more than 20 kg)
EITHER
For seated or standing stationary tasks. Does the J On average, how much time do you spend
back remain in a static position most of the time? per day on this task?
B1 No J1 Less than 2 hours
B2 Yes J2 2 to 4 hours
OR J3 More than 4 hours
For lifting, pushing/pulling and carrying tasks
(i.e. moving a load). Is the movement of the back K When performing this task, is the maximum force
B3 Infrequent (around 3 times per minute or less)? level exerted by one hand?
B4 Frequent (around 8 times per minute)? K1 Low (e.g. less than 1 kg)
B5 Very frequent (around 12 times per minute or more)? K2 Medium (e.g. 1 to 4 kg)
K3 High (e.g. more than 4 kg)
Shoulder/Arm L Is the visual demand of this task
C When the task is performed, are the hands L1 Low (almost no need to view fine details)?
(select worse case situation)
C1 At or below waist height?
*L2 High (need to view some fine details)?
C2 At about chest height?
* If High, please give details in the box below
C3 At or above shoulder height?
M At work do you drive a vehicle for
D Is the shoulder/arm movement M1 Less than one hour per day or Never?
D1 Infrequent (some intermittent movement)? M2 Between 1 and 4 hours per day?
D2 Frequent (regular movement with some pauses)? M3 More than 4 hours per day?
D3 Very frequent (almost continuous movement)?
N At work do you use vibrating tools for
Wrist/Hand N1 Less than one hour per day or Never?
E Is the task performed with N2 Between 1 and 4 hours per day?
(select worse case situation) N3 More than 4 hours per day?
E1 An almost straight wrist?
E2 A deviated or bent wrist? P Do you have difficulty keeping up with this work?
P1 Never
F Are similar motion patterns repeated
P2 Sometimes
F1 10 times per minute or less?
F2 11 to 20 times per minute? *P3 Often
F3 More than 20 times per minute? * If Often, please give details in the box below
Q In general, how do you find this job
Neck Q1 Not at all stressful?
G When performing the task, is the head/neck Q2 Mildly stressful?
bent or twisted? *Q3 Moderately stressful?
G1 No *Q4 Very stressful?
G2 Yes, occasionally * If Moderately or Very, please give details in the box below
G3 Yes, continuously
* Additional details for L, P and Q if appropriate
*L
*P
*Q
Exposure Scores Worker’s name Date
Back Shoulder/Arm Wrist/Hand Neck
Back Posture (A) & Weight (H) Height (C) & Weight (H) Repeated Motion (F) & Force (K) Neck Posture (G) & Duration (J)
A1 A2 A3 C1 C2 C3 F1 F2 F3 G1 G2 G3
H1 2 4 6 H1 2 4 6 K1 2 4 6 J1 2 4 6
H2 4 6 8 H2 4 6 8 K2 4 6 8 J2 4 6 8
H3 6 8 10 H3 6 8 10 K3 6 8 10 J3 6 8 10
H4 8 10 12 H4 8 10 12 Score 1 Score 1
Score 1 Score 1
Back Posture (A) & Duration (J) Height (C) & Duration (J) Repeated Motion (F) & Duration (J) Visual Demand (L) & Duration (J)
A1 A2 A3 C1 C2 C3 F1 F2 F3 L1 L2
J1 2 4 6 J1 2 4 6 J1 2 4 6 J1 2 4
J2 4 6 8 J2 4 6 8 J2 4 6 8 J2 4 6
J3 6 8 10 J3 6 8 10 J3 6 8 10 J3 6 8
Score 2 Score 2 Score 2 Score 2
Duration (J) & Weight (H)
J1 J2 J3
Duration (J) & Weight (H) Duration (J) & Force (K)
H1 2 4 6 J1 J2 J3 J1 J2 J3 Total score for Neck
Sum of Scores 1 to 2
H2 4 6 8 H1 2 4 6 K1 2 4 6
H3 6 8 10 H2 4 6 8 K2 4 6 8 Driving
Workers
H4 8 10 12 H3 6 8 10 K3 6 8 10 Assessment
Score 3 H4 8 10 12 Score 3 M1 M2 M3
Now do ONLY 4 if static Score 3 1 4 9
OR 5 and 6 if manual handling
Static Posture (B) & Duration (J) Frequency (D) & Weight (H) Wrist Posture (E) & Force (K) Total for Driving
B1 B2 D1 D2 D3 E1 E2
J1 2 4 H1 2 4 6 K1 2 4 Vibration
J2 4 6 H2 4 6 8 K2 4 6
J3 6 8 H3 6 8 10 K3 6 8
N1 N2 N3
Score 4 H4 8 10 12 Score 4
1 4 9
Score 4
Frequency (B) & Weight (H)
B3 B4 B5 Total for Vibration
H1 2 4 6 Frequency (D) & Duration (J) Wrist Posture (E) & Duration (J)
D1 D2 D3 E1 E2 Work pace
H2 4 6 8
J1 2 4 6 J1 2 4
H3 6 8 10
J2 4 6 8 J2 4 6
P1 P2 P3
H4 8 10 12
J3 6 8 10 J3 6 8 1 4 9
Score 5
Score 5 Score 5
Frequency (B) & Duration (J)
B3 B4 B5 Total for Work pace
J1 2 4 6
J2 4 6 8
Stress
J3 6 8 10
Score 6 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
1 4 9 16
Total score for Back Total score for Shoulder/Arm Total score for Wrist/Hand
Sum of scores 1 to 4 OR Sum of Scores 1 to 5 Sum of Scores 1 to 5
Scores 1 to 3 plus 5 and 6
Total for Stress
Interpreting the scores
Exposure scores for body areas
The total score for each body area is determined from the interactions between the exposure levels for the relevant
risk factors (see table below), and their subsequent addition.
It is important to take note of which interactions contribute most to the overall score for each body area.
The exposure scores for the back, shoulder/arm, wrist/hand and neck have been categorised into 4 exposure
categories: Low, Moderate, High or Very High. Even if the exposure score is Low, it is important to note
that one or two interactions may be contributing disproportionately to the score (i.e. a score of 8 or more).
For Moderate, High and Very High scores, there are likely to be several interactions that should be identified and
reduced. It is also possible that one or two interactions are at the highest levels (i.e. 10 or 12) of exposure. These
should be addressed urgently to reduce the level of exposure for these factors.
These interactions should be monitored and reviewed as injury to the body could occur if exposure continues.
Where scores are Moderate or High, or Very High, the level of exposure should be reduced.
Important risk factors
Important Risk Factors
Back Wrist/hand Neck Shoulder/arm
• load weight • force • duration • load weight
• duration • duration • posture • duration
• frequency of movement • frequency of movement • visual demand • task height
• posture • posture • frequency of
movement
Exposure level
Exposure Level
Score Low Moderate High Very High
Back (static) 8-15 16-22 23-29 29-40
Back (moving) 10-20 21-30 31-40 41-56
Shoulder/ arm 10-20 21-30 31-40 41-56
Wrist/ hand 10-20 21-30 31-40 41-46
Neck 4-6 8-10 12-14 16-18
Exposure level
QEC - Specific Task Manual Handling Assessment Aug 09 SpringBoard Safety Services
