General MSD Hazard Identification Tool
Job Title or Date
Task
Completed By
Space for notes/comments is provided on the back page of this checklist
Check if
MSD Hazards - Gripping
required
Pinch Gripping unsupported object(s)
difficult/tiring holding or manipulating
difficult/tiring squeezing to open/close
Power Gripping unsupported heavy object(s)
difficult/tiring holding and manipulating
difficult/tiring squeezing to open/close
Check if
MSD Hazards - Force
required
Lifting/Lowering object is heavy/difficult to lift/lower
(consider both one
and two-handed object is lifted/lowered repeatedly
lifting/lowering) object is above the shoulders
object is below the knees
Object is far away from the belly button
loads are unstable, unbalanced, uncooperative, or unpredictable
lifting/lowering postures are awkward (bend, twist, kneel, reach, sit)
Pushing/Pulling object is hard/difficult to push/pull
(consider one and
two-handed object is pushed/pulled repeatedly
pushing/pulling.
Also, consider object is pushed with hands above the shoulders
whole body &
arms/upper body object is pushed with hands below the waist
only
pushing/pulling) pushing/pulling postures are awkward (bend, twist, kneel, reach, sit)
MSD Hazards – Awkward/Fixed Posture (Do workers frequently Check if
assume these postures and/or hold them for a long time?) required
Awkward Posture neck visibly bent forward (chin close to chest)
neck visibly bent to one side (ear close to shoulder)
neck twisted to either side/chin close to the shoulder
neck noticeably bent back
neck bent forward and chin out (head forward)
hand(s) at or above the head
elbow(s) at/or above the shoulder
elbows/hands behind the body
sitting or standing with the back noticeably bent forward, sideways,
or twisted
back noticeably bent backward with no support for the back
squatting/kneeling while working
wrist noticeably bent down or up
wrist noticeably bent to the side (toward thumb/little finger)
hand turned so palm faces fully up or down
Fixed Posture sitting for long periods without standing (office work, driving, etc.)
standing still on a hard surface for a long period of time
MSD Hazards – Repetition (Do workers repetitively move the same Check if
body part – with little opportunity for recovery?) required
Repetition performing the same neck motions repeatedly
performing the same shoulder motions repeatedly
performing the same elbow motions repeatedly
performing the same wrist motions repeatedly
performing the same hand/finger motions repeatedly
performing intensive keyboarding
performing intensive mousing
Check if
MSD Hazards - Other
required
Repeated Impacts using the hand or knee as a hammer
Contact Stress tool handles dig into hand/palm
workstation/equipment edges/products dig into body (hands,
forearms, trunk, thighs)
Hand-Arm Vibration using vibrating tools (impact wrenches, carpet strippers, chainsaws,
jackhammers, scalers, riveting hammers, grinders, sanders, jig saws,
jack-leg drills.)
Whole-Body operating mobile equipment/vehicles on rough, uneven surfaces
Vibration
Cold/Hot work environment is cold, hand/arms are exposed to cold air
Modified from Part3A: MSD Prevention Toolbox – Getting Started
Developed by Occupation Health and Safety Council of Ontario (OHSCO)
