Safety & Workforce worked example

Ergonomic Risk Score with severity factor of 4 score: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop severity factor to 4 score, then walk the calculation through step by step. Score ergonomic risk from posture, force, and repetition factors.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Severity factor: 4 score (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 8)
  • Occurrence factor: 6 score (held at the documented default)
  • Detection factor: 7 score (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Weighted score = severity × 0.40 + occurrence × 0.35 + detection × 0.25.
  • Ergonomic risk score works out to 5.45 score at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Ergonomic risk severity score works out to 4 score at these inputs.
  • Ergonomic risk occurrence score works out to 6 score at these inputs.
  • Ergonomic risk detection score works out to 7 score at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where severity factor sits at 8 score and the headline result is 7.05 score, this scenario comes in 22.7% below the baseline at 5.45 score.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to severity factor, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. It is a relative prioritization index, not a validated exposure assessment — it does not replace RULA, REBA, NIOSH lifting equation, or the Liberty Mutual tables for quantifying actual biomechanical load.

Results at a glance

  • Ergonomic risk score: 5.45 score (headline result)
  • Ergonomic risk severity score: 4 score
  • Ergonomic risk occurrence score: 6 score
  • Ergonomic risk detection score: 7 score

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Ergonomic Risk Score calculator, set severity factor to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.