Register of measured values for knee-straining activities (GonKatast)

At the end of 2005, a scientific justification for a new occupational disease, "osteoarthritis of the knee (OA)", was published by the medical expert board to the German Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS). The reasoning states two essential risk factors: the angle of the knee during tasks involving squatting, kneeling, sitting on heels and crawling; and the proportion of time spent performing these tasks per working shift. Since no adequately validated findings were available for these two factors, work was begun in 2006 with the creation of a register of measured values for tasks involving knee-straining activities. The register, which was to cover all BGs (German institutions for statutory accident insurance and prevention), was created under the overall control of the IFA

Based upon measurements of body posture obtained by means of the CUELA system, selected tasks were recorded in relevant occupations, and supplemented with the results of surveys conducted at the same time into daily output, duration of breaks, etc.

The objective of the project is to obtain valid data for quantification of the relevant knee load within various occupational groups, and thereby to create a basis for future prevention measures and for inspections of work conducted during investigations into cases of suspected occupational disease. The BGs involved are responsible for recording the data, in some cases with support from staff of the IFA. All recorded data are collected, evaluated and stored centrally in register form at the IFA.

Research partners:

• Berufsgenossenschaft der Bauwirtschaft – BG BAU
  (German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the building trade)
• Berufsgenossenschaft Holz und Metall – BGHM
  (German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the woodworking industry and the metalworking industry)
• Berufsgenossenschaft Rohstoffe Chemische Industrie – BG RCI
  (German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the raw materials and chemical industry)
• Berufsgenossenschaft Elektro Textil Energie Medienerzeugnisse – BG ETEM
  (German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the energy, textile, electrical and media products sector)
• Berufsgenossenschaft für Transport und Verkehrswirtschaft – BG Verkehr
  (German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the transport industry)