The upper limbs include the neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, hands, and fingers.

Originally developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the United Kingdom, WorkSafe New Zealand has adapted the tool for use in Aotearoa New Zealand. To reflect these changes and to differentiate from the original HSE version, we have called our document The New Zealand assessment of repetitive tasks (NZART). The risk factor categories, descriptions, and scoring system remain largely unchanged from the original tool.

The NZART is currently only available in PDF format.

Alternatively, you could use the HSE’s online ART tool(external link)

Development of the NZART

For more information on how the upper limb tools were developed, read Development of an upper limb screening tool and the New Zealand assessment of repetitive tasks (NZART)

The term 'upper limb(s)' refers to the neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, hands, or fingers.

Repetitive upper limb tasks are made up of a sequence of actions. They are usually:

• of short duration
• done over, and over again, and
• are almost always the same.

These types of tasks are usually found in 'assembly-line work' or processes with high rates of production. For example:

• processing, packaging, packing, and sorting work
• the regular use of hand tools where the same actions are repeated in short cycles.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA), a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of its workers and others.

This means PCBUs (businesses) must, so far as reasonably practicable, manage health and safety risks associated with WRMSDs (Ref 2 and 3) including upper limb conditions.

The Assessment of Repetitive Tasks (ART) was developed in the United Kingdom (UK) by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It helps businesses assess the risks from tasks where there are repetitive movements of the upper limbs (Ref 1). It will help you assess some of the most common risk factors in repetitive work that contribute to the development of upper limb conditions.

ART has been adapted by WorkSafe New Zealand to reflect New Zealand legislation. This version is known as the New Zealand ART (NZART).

NZART can also help you to:

• identify where control measures could be put in place to eliminate or minimise the risk of discomfort, pain, and injury,
• prioritise which tasks should be considered first, and
• check the effectiveness of any control measures put in place.

Use NZART to assess tasks that:

• involve actions of the upper limbs
• repeat every few minutes, or more frequently, and
• occur for at least 1–2 hours per day or shift.

The NZART has three sections:

• an assessment guide – provides detailed information about how to use NZART, the risk factors, and assessment criteria
• a flowchart – provides an overview of the assessment process. This is best used to guide experienced users quickly through the tool
• a score sheet – provides a place to record information about the task and the assessment findings.

NZART uses a traffic light system to indicate the risk level for each risk factor:

The NZART is aimed at those responsible for designing, assessing, managing, and inspecting musculoskeletal health risks (repetitive upper limb tasks). It can be used by:

• PCBUs (businesses), (the 'you' in this tool)
• health and safety generalists such as advisors and managers
• health and safety specialists (for example, human factors/ergonomics professionals, occupational health nurses, occupational health physiotherapists, vocational occupational therapists)
• workers and their representatives
• health and safety inspectors.

If you need help to use NZART, you could use a qualified health and safety specialist with the right training, skills, and expertise. You could use the HASANZ Register(external link) to find one.

Be aware that some professional groups will have more knowledge and expertise than others in the use of these assessment methods and the interventions and control measures that reduce musculoskeletal health risks.

1. Identify the tasks to assess

Choose tasks that you know involve repetitive actions of the upper limbs, that occur every few minutes, and for at least 1-2 hours per day or shift.

2. Check that NZART is the best tool to use

Look at the table below and decide if NZART is the right assessment tool.

3. Engage with workers (Ref 7)

The key to effective risk assessment is making sure you talk to workers. To best understand the risks, you should complete NZART with your workers.

• Ask workers (and their representatives) about the repetitive tasks they perform and if they have any ideas on how to manage the musculoskeletal risks.
• Aim to gain insight into the demands of the job from the perspectives of all workers (or a representative sample) carrying out the task.

4. Observe the task carefully

• Make sure that you look at how the task is being carried out by workers, not how you assume it is done. Workers may complete tasks in differing ways, so 'normal practice' may vary.
• Videoing it may help, but make sure to follow the privacy principles outlined in the Privacy Act 2020.

5. Complete the task description in the NZART score sheet

In the score sheet, describe the task you are assessing. This will help you to understand the work better and when task breaks or pauses occur. The timeline may be useful to help you record:

• meal breaks
• other official breaks
• other pauses (for example, pauses in production)
• any non-repetitive tasks (for example, visual inspection tasks).

6. Work through the assessment and flowchart

• Decide if you are going to assess both the left and rights arms, or just the arm that is mostly involved in the task. If you are unsure assess both arms.
• The assessment is split into four main parts:
  • A: Frequency and repetitive movements
  • B: Force
  • C: Awkward postures
  • D: Additional factors.
• Work through each part in the assessment to determine the level of risk for each risk factor.

7. Fill in the score sheet

• Enter the colour bands and numerical scores on the score sheet. This will determine the task score and exposure score.
• You can use intermediate scores if the factor you are assessing falls between two categories.
• You can use a hard copy or the online PDF NZART interactive score sheet
• You can also use the online UK ART tool(external link) that will take you through the assessment and automatically complete the score sheet.

8. Understanding the scores

The score sheet can be used in several ways to:

• identify which risk factors to look at more closely. For example, the risk factor results that were scored as red or amber
• compare tasks by looking at the task and exposure scores when more than one assessment has been completed. Use these scores only to prioritise which task to look at first. Tasks with the highest scores should be prioritised for risk reduction.

9. Manage the risk

Look for ways of changing the task to reduce high risk factors (those that are scored as red) to amber or green, and to reduce amber risk factors to green.

You can do this by using the hierarchy of control measures to decide what controls to use (see Identifying, assessing and managing work risks (Ref 4)).

• First, consider if it is reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk (for example, through redesign or automation).
• If not possible, consider how the risk can be minimised (for example, by substituting tools or components).
• Alongside these higher order control measures, you may also need to consider administrative controls. For example, task rotation, break schedules, and training to support the work system.

Involve your workers as they might have already thought of how to manage the risk or how to make the task easier.

10. Is further investigation needed?

When you have completed your assessments using NZART, you may want to consider other contributing factors in more detail. The Contributing factors for musculoskeletal risks checklist (Ref 8) can be used. Other assessment tools that focus on different risk factors may provide you with more information and ideas for controls. You can also seek specialist advice from a qualified professional by using the HASANZ Register.

• Observe the movement of the arm and select the category that is most appropriate.
• It is possible to select intermediate scores.
• Assess both the left (L) and right (R) arm.

Arm movements are:

• This refers to movement of the arm and hand, but not the fingers.
• Observe the movement of the arm and hand and count the number of times the same or a similar pattern of motion is repeated over a set period of time (for example, one minute).
• Assess both the left (L) and right (R) arm.

Similar motion pattern of the arm and hand is repeated:

Determine the level of force

• Ask the workers if there are any actions that require muscle effort of the arm, hand, or fingers.
• If they identify these types of actions, ask them to describe the level of force involved in each action. For example, they grip a cable with one hand, and use a tool to cut the cable with the other. They should provide force estimates for each activity, such as light, moderate, strong, or very strong.
• You can also observe the tasks workers are doing to help you determine the level of force exerted with the hand using the written descriptions below:

Determine the score

• Use the grid below to determine:
  • the level of force exerted with the hand, and
  • the time that the force is exerted for.
• It is possible to select intermediate scores on the grid if appropriate.
• If more than one type of force is exerted, select the highest score from the grid.

• Determine the amount of time that the worker spends in the postures described below.
• This includes the time spent moving to a bent or twisted position repetitively and the time spent holding a bent or twisted position.

The neck is considered to be bent or twisted if an obvious angle between the neck and back can be observed as a result of performing the task.

The head or neck is:

The back posture is considered awkward if more than 20° of twisting or bending is observed.

The back is:

The arm is considered to be in an awkward posture if the elbow is raised to around chest height and the arm is unsupported (for example, it is not resting on a workbench).

The elbow is:

The wrist is considered to be bent or deviated if an obvious wrist angle can be observed.

The wrist is:

The hands or fingers hold objects in a:

• Determine the maximum amount of time that individuals perform the repetitive task without a break.
• Breaks are significant changes or pauses in arm or hand activity. For example, the break or pause in activity lasts for at least 5–10 minutes.
• Breaks include:
  • structured breaks such as meal breaks, and
  • time spent performing other tasks that do not involve similar repetitive arm movements. For example, a visual inspection task.

The worker performs the task continuously, without a break, for:

• Ask the workers about any difficulties they might have keeping up with the work.
• Select the most appropriate category below.
• If the score is amber or red, ask for more information about this aspect of the work.

• Identify any other factors that are present in the task.
• Assess both the left (L) and right (R) arm and select the most appropriate category.

Examples of other factors that may be present in the task:

• gloves affect gripping and make the handling task more difficult
• a tool (for example, a hammer or pick) is used to strike two or more times a minute
• the hand is used as a tool (for example, as a hammer) and strikes ten or more times per hour
• the tools, workpiece, or workstation cause compression of the skin and soft tissues
• the tools or workpiece cause discomfort or cramping of the hand or fingers
• the hand/arm is exposed to vibration (for more information see Ref 9)
• the task requires fine precise movements of the hand or fingers
• workers are exposed to cold, draughts, or grip cold tools
• lighting levels are inadequate.

• Determine the amount of time that a worker performs the repetitive task in a typical day or shift (excluding breaks).
• Select the most appropriate category from the table below and write it in the score sheet. Later you will need to use the duration multiplier to work out the 'exposure score'. Appendix 2 provides more information on how to do this is.

• Psychosocial factors are not given a score, but they should be considered.
• Talk with the workers to understand if psychosocial or work organisation factors are present in the workplace and record them on the score sheet.
• Psychosocial and work organisation factors include:
  • little control over how the work is done
  • monotonous work
  • lack of support from colleagues, supervisors, or managers
  • excessive work demands
  • frequent tight deadlines
  • high levels of attention and concentration
  • incentives to skip breaks, finish early, or other pay incentives (piece-rate work)
  • insufficient training to do the job successfully.

1. Health and Safety Executive (2010). Assessment of repetitive tasks of the upper limbs (the ART tool). Leaflet INDG438. HSE – ART tool(external link)
2. WorkSafe New Zealand, (2023). Quick guide: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and risk factors
3. WorkSafe New Zealand, (2023). Our approach to musculoskeletal health
4. WorkSafe New Zealand (2017). Identifying, assessing and managing work risks
5. WorkSafe New Zealand (2024). The New Zealand manual handling assessment charts (NZMAC)
6. Department of Labour (2010). Guidelines for using computers
7. WorkSafe (2023). Worker engagement, participation and representation
8. WorkSafe (2024). Contributing factors for musculoskeletal risks checklist
9. WorkSafe (2021). Hand-arm vibration – information for businesses
10. Health and Safety Executive (2010). Task rotation workbook(external link)

• Enter the colour band and numerical score for each risk factor on the score sheet.
• The colours assigned to the individual risk factors will help you to identify where to focus risk-reduction measures.
• There is also a place on the score sheet to record other important findings of the assessment (for example, psychosocial risk factors).
• If you assess both arms, several factors only need to be assessed once. These are the head/neck posture, back posture, breaks, and work pace. Enter these scores into the columns for both the left arm and right arm.
• Follow the instructions below to calculate the:
  • task score – the sum of all the individual risk factors assessed
  • exposure score – considers the total duration of the same repetitive task performed by the worker over the day or shift.

Calculating the task score

• The task score is the sum of all the individual risk factors assessed.
• To calculate the task score, add all the scores together on the score sheet.

• If you assess both arms, keep the scores for the left arm and right arm separate, do not combine them.

Calculating the exposure score

• The exposure score refers to activities where workers perform the same repetitive task and considers the total duration of the task over the day or shift.
• To calculate the exposure score the task score is adjusted to reflect the total duration that the task is performed by a worker.
• Multiply the task score by the appropriate duration multiplier selected in 2.12, to calculate the exposure score.

Task score x duration multiplier (2.12) = Exposure score

What do the scores mean?

• The task scores and the exposure scores help to:
  • prioritise tasks that need the most urgent attention, and
  • help to check the effectiveness after any improvements have been made.
• The colours assigned to the individual risk factors will help identify where to focus risk-reduction measures.
• A system for interpreting the exposure score is suggested in the table below.

Even if the exposure score is low, consider the requirements of individuals and groups where appropriate. For example, vulnerable workers are workers who:

• are new mothers, or pregnant
• are young workers
• are older workers
• are new to the job or workforce
• have a disability, significant health condition, injury, or are recovering from an injury, particularly if this affects their neck or upper limbs.

Individual adjustments to the work may still be needed to accommodate these people.

How to deal with task rotation

The method used to calculate the exposure score applies where a worker performs the same repetitive task throughout the day or shift. But workers may carry out several different repetitive tasks as part of their job. You can use NZART to assess each repetitive task a worker undertakes and compare the task scores to understand if task rotation is an effective control.

Step 1

Assess all repetitive tasks the worker undertakes. If workers rotate to other repetitive tasks in their job, assess all their tasks that involve repetitive movements of the upper limbs. This helps to consider their overall exposure.

Step 2

Compare the risk factor colours and scores across the different tasks. You may find that workers rotate to tasks with similar red scores or high task scores. This means that the task rotation may not provide enough variation or recovery in the work. In this case, examine the task rotation system further, or consider what other alternative tasks might be available. Remember to talk with workers about whether the rotation provides sufficient recovery or improves their work in other ways.

Step 3

You can use the online electronic workbook to calculate the overall score of a job involving several repetitive tasks. This job exposure score helps prioritise jobs involving more than one repetitive task. Refer here for the workbook taskrot.xls (live.com)(external link) (Ref 10)

This document contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive (United Kingdom) and licenced under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

WorkSafe New Zealand has adapted the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE, UK) Assessment of repetitive tasks of the upper limbs (the ART tool) (Ref 1) for use in Aotearoa New Zealand. To reflect these changes and to differentiate from the original United Kingdom version, WorkSafe have called this document The New Zealand Assessment of repetitive tasks of the upper limbs (NZART). The risk factor categories, descriptions, and scoring system remain largely unchanged from the original tool.