{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,14]],"date-time":"2026-01-14T22:03:14Z","timestamp":1768428194187,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":143,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"20","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,10]],"date-time":"2020-10-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1602288000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"European Union\u2019s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme","award":["871237"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["871237"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Due to the epochal changes introduced by \u201cIndustry 4.0\u201d, it is getting harder to apply the varying approaches for biomechanical risk assessment of manual handling tasks used to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMDs) considered within the International Standards for ergonomics. In fact, the innovative human\u2013robot collaboration (HRC) systems are widening the number of work motor tasks that cannot be assessed. On the other hand, new sensor-based tools for biomechanical risk assessment could be used for both quantitative \u201cdirect instrumental evaluations\u201d and \u201crating of standard methods\u201d, allowing certain improvements over traditional methods. In this light, this Letter aims at detecting the need for revising the standards for human ergonomics and biomechanical risk assessment by analyzing the WMDs prevalence and incidence; additionally, the strengths and weaknesses of traditional methods listed within the International Standards for manual handling activities and the next challenges needed for their revision are considered. As a representative example, the discussion is referred to the lifting of heavy loads where the revision should include the use of sensor-based tools for biomechanical risk assessment during lifting performed with the use of exoskeletons, by more than one person (team lifting) and when the traditional methods cannot be applied. The wearability of sensing and feedback sensors in addition to human augmentation technologies allows for increasing workers\u2019 awareness about possible risks and enhance the effectiveness and safety during the execution of in many manual handling activities.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s20205750","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,14]],"date-time":"2020-10-14T21:24:39Z","timestamp":1602710679000},"page":"5750","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":48,"title":["The Sensor-Based Biomechanical Risk Assessment at the Base of the Need for Revising of Standards for Human Ergonomics"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0197-6166","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alberto","family":"Ranavolo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00040 Rome, Italy"}]},{"given":"Arash","family":"Ajoudani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"HRI2 Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7272-6922","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"Cherubini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LIRMM, University Montpellier, CNRS, 34000 Montpellier, France"}]},{"given":"Matteo","family":"Bianchi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro di Ricerca \u201cEnrico Piaggio\u201d and Department of Information Engineering, Universit\u00e0 di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy"}]},{"given":"Lars","family":"Fritzsche","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ergonomics Division, IMK Automotive GmbH, 09128 Chemnitz, Germany"}]},{"given":"Sergio","family":"Iavicoli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00040 Rome, Italy"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0930-6535","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Massimo","family":"Sartori","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomechanical Engineering, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands"}]},{"given":"Alessio","family":"Silvetti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00040 Rome, Italy"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4881-9341","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bram","family":"Vanderborght","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Brubotics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium"},{"name":"Flanders Make, Oude Diestersebaan 133, 3920 Lommel, Belgium"}]},{"given":"Tiwana","family":"Varrecchia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00040 Rome, Italy"}]},{"given":"Francesco","family":"Draicchio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00040 Rome, Italy"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"230","DOI":"10.1093\/rheumatology\/ker086","article-title":"Effectiveness of community- and workplace-based interventions to manage musculoskeletal-related sickness absence and job loss: A systematic review","volume":"51","author":"Palmer","year":"2011","journal-title":"Rheumatology"},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Waters, T.R., Putz-Anderson, V., and Garg, A. 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