Correlation between Different Hand Force Assessment Methods from an Epidemiological Study Denis A. Coelho, 1 Carisa Harris-Adamson, 2 Tˆ ania M. Lima, 1 Ira Janowitz, 3 and David M. Rempel 2 1 Dept. Electromechanical Engineering, University of Beira Interior, Covilh˜ a, Portugal 2 Ergonomics Program, University of California, San Francisco and Berkeley, USA 3 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley, USA Abstract This article presents the outcome of correlation analyses of data results obtained from using different methods for objectively and subjectively assessing hand force from a prospective study of 450 blue- collar workers from several companies and industries, followed for up to 3 years. The study collected detailed ergonomic exposure data at baseline and upper extremity health outcome data at baseline and every 4 months during the study. Ultimately, the study was intended to evaluate dose-response relationships of specific upper extremity disorders with detailed physical and psychosocial exposure data at the workplace while controlling for important individual factors. This article presents the methods used to collect data, as well as the hand force results of the epidemiological study in aggregate correlated form, as a means of exploring the degree of independence between the variables considered. These insights are useful in identifying musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) causation and predicting MSD risk based on work exposures. An enhanced understanding of the independence of MSD causal factors is instrumental in establishing more accurate multivariable models of MSD causation that will play an important role in extrapolating from the understanding of mechanisms of causation to establishing effective recommendations and programs to prevent the occurrence of MSDs. C  2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Keywords: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs); Grip and pinch forces; Exposure assessment; Multivariable models of MSD causation 1. INTRODUCTION Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are prevalent, po- tentially disabling conditions (Lawrence et al., 1998) with enormous social costs (Badley, Rasooly, & Correspondence to: Denis A. Coelho, Human Technology Group, Dept. Electromechanical Engineering, Universidade da Beira Interior, Calc ¸ada da Fonte do Lameiro, 6201-001 Covilh˜ a, Portugal. Phone: 351-275-329943; e-mail: denis@ubi.pt, denis.a.coelho@gmail.com Received: 27 August 2010; revised 11 December 2010; accepted 8 February 2011 View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/hfm DOI: 10.1002/hfm.20308 Webster, 1994; Felts & Yelin, 1989). In industrial- ized societies, they are the main cause of perma- nent work disability and functional loss in adults (Meerding, Bonneux, Polder, Koopmanschap, & van der Maas, 1998; Reynolds et al., 1992; Van Schaarden- burg, van den Brade, Ligthart, Breedveld, & Hazes, 1994; Yelin, Henke, & Epstein, 1986) and the second leading cause of short-term temporary work disabil- ity (Badley, 1995), with productivity losses of up to 1.3% of U.S. gross national product (Yelin & Felts, 1990). Total costs accruing from MSDs include di- rect health care costs and indirect costs from a va- riety of factors, such as loss of productivity (Leon et al., 2009). Indirect costs can be two to twenty 128 Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries 23 (2) 128–139 (2013) c  2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.