hand/wrist

In its neutral position, the wrist is held straight to slightly extended (the knuckles slightly higher than the forearm, as in a handshake). Awkward postures of the wrist include extreme wrist bending (i.e. flexion and extension) and wrist deviation (radial and ulnar deviation).
 

handle grip forces

For highly repetitive tasks, required grip forces should not exceed 15% of an individual’s one-time maximum grip force; for occasional tasks, 30%; and for infrequent tasks, 50%.
 

handling

Defined by the Revised Handbook for Analyzing Jobs as seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand or hands. Fingers are involved only to the extent that they are an extension of the hand, such as to turn a switch or shift automobile gears. In Part A of “Selected Characteristics of Occupations Defined” in the revised Dictionary of Occupational Titles, the rating for the handling component appears ninth in the first physical demand column under the vertical heading “Ha.”
 

health care provider

A physician who specializes in occupational medicine, or a registered nurse specializing in occupational health, or other health personnel (such as emergency medical technicians) working under the supervision of a physician or a registered nurse.
 

hearing

Defined by the Revised Handbook for Analyzing Jobs as perceiving the nature of sounds by ear. In Part A of “Selected Characteristics of Occupations Defined” in the revised Dictionary of Occupational Titles, the rating for the hearing component appears third in the second set of physical demand ratings under the vertical heading “He.”
 

heart rate analysis to evaluate effort

Defined by Matheson as the monitoring of heart rate to determine exertion levels in persons attempting full physical effort on repetitive, large-muscle-group activity. While there is no exact value to prove full effort, Matheson evaluators are trained to use a baseline rate of 65% to 70% of the client’s maximum allowable heart rate (220 minus age).

This number should be adjusted up or down for persons who are very fit or very deconditioned. A further consideration is medications that can affect heart rate, such as beta-blockers and antihistamines. One must be cautious in implementing a too-low heart rate elevation to show full effort, as non-effort-related factors can also increase heart rate to some extent (e.g. nervousness, apprehension, anxiety, white-coat syndrome, caffeine, nicotine). Evaluators should minimize such external factors where possible, and ask clients directly if they feel nervous or anxious during relevant tests. (Kyi, Enright, 1999)