Abstract
BACKGROUND:A large number of different methods are available to identify and assess working postures. Although observation-based methods are most commonly used in practise, investigations showed different results regarding validity of such methods.OBJECTIVE:To investigate validity of one of the most commonly used observation-based assessment method in ergonomics, the Ovako Working Posture Analysing System (OWAS) and the European standard EN 1005-4 for evaluation of working postures, an experimental laboratory study was conducted.METHODS:Muscle activity was measured under combinations of static working postures of trunk inclination and shoulder flexion to compare these measurements and observation-based assessments according to OWAS and EN 1005-4. In order to investigate the magnitude of correspondence between muscle activity and observation-based assessments, Spearman rank correlation coefficients (rs) were calculated.RESULTS:Significant correlations were found between OWAS and muscle activity (range from rs2 = 0.17 rs2 = 0.55). Significant correlations were found between EN 1005-4 and muscle activity (range from rs2 = 0.34 to rs2 = 0.74).CONCLUSIONS:Results emphasise a need for further developments of observation-based methods, since the two investigated methods showed a variance of validity ranging from small to large. Such improvements may also form a better basis for the ergonomic improvement of working conditions in practise, which is highly necessary due to a constantly high prevalence of MSDs in the last decades.
Highlights
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a common problem in many industrialized countries [1]
Muscle activity was measured under combinations of static working postures of trunk inclination and shoulder flexion to compare objective measurements and observation-based assessments according to Ovako Working Posture Analysing System (OWAS) and EN 1005-4
The exercise conditions resulted in considerably different degrees of muscle activity
Summary
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a common problem in many industrialized countries [1]. Investigations have identified external exposure factors such as working posture, force and repetitiveness to determine workload and to be responsible for the development of MSDs [5]. CONCLUSIONS: Results emphasise a need for further developments of observation-based methods, since the two investigated methods showed a variance of validity ranging from small to large. Such improvements may form a better basis for the ergonomic improvement of working conditions in practise, which is highly necessary due to a constantly high prevalence of MSDs in the last decades
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