Chapter 4 Discussion

There are several advantages to using task-based assessment to determine magnetic field exposures. Job title based assessment is the common approach. A worker’s job title, however, does not necessarily indicate the magnetic field exposure tasks a worker performs. Task-based assessment is more efficient in that there are fewer tasks required to cover a population than job titles. It is easier to obtain information about what is performed in a task versus a job because a job title can be more variable. Tasks often are the same across jobs and industries, as we found in reviewing the California Occupational Guides. The results can prove to be useful as feedback to a worker if they are able to associate certain tasks with high or low exposure. Task assessment should be simpler and easier to perform than job title assessment, which has traditionally been done.