DUTCH: A new tool for practitioners for risk assessment of push and pull activities

Pushing and pulling at work is an undervalued theme within occupational health policy. This is unjustified, because these activities are very common and potentially increase the risk of shoulder symptoms. Gaining insight into the possible health risks of specific push or pull activities at the workplace is a first step towards prevention of musculoskeletal symptoms. Existing instruments proved to be insufficiently suitable to give that insight in a simple way. This was the motivation for developing the Push and Pull Check (DUTCH). This method makes clear whether the push or pull activity is acceptable or not, which risk factors exist, and which measures can reduce the risk. This article describes the operation of the DUTCH, as well as the development of the tool.