Development of physical and psychosocial job exposure matrices

Abstract

Job exposure matrices (JEM) provide systematic collections of job-related exposures, including detailed information on exposures in individual occupational titles. The matrices can be used by the social insurance system and employment offices to provide data on job specific work requirements. The matrices may also be used vocational rehabilitation. Furthermore, they can be used to define priorities for workplace interventions and to identify high-risk target groups.

Although the matrix was based on Finnish data it could be applicable, with some modifications, in other countries with a similar occupational structure and level of technology.