Citation

Kee D. Int. J. Occup. Safety Ergonomics 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Industrial Engineering, Keimyung University, Korea.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10803548.2019.1710933

PMID

31941428

Abstract

This study aimed to compare three observational techniques of Ovako Working posture Analysis System (OWAS), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) based on whole-body discomfort. Fifteen college students participated in the experiment measuring discomfort. Hand height and distance, and external load were used as independent variables. The results showed that while just two independent variables of the hand height and distance significantly affected the OWAS action category, all three independent variables including external load were significant on the discomfort, RULA grand, and REBA scores. The grand score was more linearly correlated to the discomfort, compared to the OWAS action category and REBA score. RULA generally assessed postural loads for the postures tested more highly than OWAS and REBA. Based on these findings, it was concluded that of the three methods, RULA may be the best for estimating postural stress under the conditions of this study.

Language: en

Keywords

OWAS; REBA; RULA; discomfort; observation technique; work-related musculoskeletal disorders