WULMSDs Risk Assessment Methods Comparison Serranheira, Florentino Occupational Health Department National Public Health School New University of Lisbon Avenida Padre Cruz 1600-560 Lisboa/Portugal +351217512100 / serranheira@ensp.unl.pt Uva, António Sousa Occupational Health Department National Public Health School New University of Lisbon Avenida Padre Cruz 1600-560 Lisboa/Portugal +351217512100 /asuva@ensp.unl.pt ABSTRACT To consider a systematic WULMSD’s risk assessment strategy we registered in video 71 workstations classified as moderate or high risk with OCRA in an automobile plant and we applied five different observational methods. Three of the methods were RULA, SI and HAL and the other two has been the filters OSHA (1998) and RSI-HSE (2002). Results present divergent levels of risk concerning hazard identification and risk evaluation with both filters and methods. We concluded that the WULMSD’s risk assessment methods selection can’t be made without a workstation rigorous knowledge which determines the eviction of an “universal” method of risk evaluation of this kind of disorders. Keywords: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders; Work-related upper limb musculoskeletal disorders; occupational risk assessment and management; risk analysis. INTRODUCTION Work Upper Limb Musculoskeletal Disorders (WULMD’s) are common in the industrial world particularly when workers are exposed to occupational hazards that include forced postures, high repetitiveness, force and vibrations (Balogh, 2001; Karwowski & Marras, 1999; Hakkanen et al., 1997; Fredrikson, 2000; Bernard, 1997; N.R.C./I.O.M., 2001; Buckle & Devereux, 1999). Risk management of WULMSD’s must be based on a correct risk assessment (Serranheira et al., 2005). Such process has been supported in several methods of qualitative risk evaluation, many times selected and used by non experts. The evaluation of the potential to harm (risk) may lead therefore to potential invalid results and inappropriate control measures if used not accurately.