As Prepared byTimothy Galisin

01BEHS-201005-00108

Ovako Working Posture Asessment System Created in mid-1970s by Ovako Oy, a

private steel company in Finland. Joint effort between the company and

Finnish IOSH. Basic concepts has been incorporated into

other posture analysis systems.

NECK

ARMSTRUNK (TORSO)

LOWER BODY

Job evaluation and redesign◦ Determine if current postural demands are  acceptable◦ Establish baseline to evaluate effectiveness of

interventions◦ Identify job attributes associated with awkward

postures◦ Evaluate intervention effectiveness by comparin

g to baseline Epidemiology/Research

◦ Measure exposure for dose‐response models

Standards of posture for neck, arms, trunk and lower body. Observe body’s instantaneous movement at all four points. Percentage of time recorded for all points and the name of

the work activity being assessed. Results compared to benchmark. Once trained on this method, a user can use it by simply

observing workers and no interaction with the workers is required.

The data collected is compared against suggested to action categories, which determine whether some corrective action needs to be taken to reduce the risk of injury.

Class 1: normal postures that do not need any special attention, except in some special cases.

Class 2: postures that must be considered during the next regular check of working methods.

Class 3: postures that need consideration in the near future.

Class 4: postures that need immediate consideration.

All types of works that uses all working parts of the body.

Examples: Agriculture Construction Healthcare Steel manufacture Education (preschool)

1. Upright/free (“neutral”)2. Bent forward ‐‐ flexion more than 30º3. Bent to side ‐‐ “pure” lateral bending more than 30º4. Bent backward ‐‐ extension more than 30º5. Twisted ‐‐ axial twisting more than 45º

1. Both arms below shoulder height (“neutral”)2. One arm above shoulder height; elbow above shoulder height3. Both arms above shoulder height

1. Straight/upright (“neutral”)2. Bent forward (“pure” flexion)3 Straight and twisted (“Pure” axial flexion)4. Bent and twisted (combination of flexion,  lateral bending, and/or twisting)

1. Sitting2. Standing ‐‐ weight on 2 legs, knees straight3. Standing ‐‐ weight on 1 leg, knees straight4. Standing ‐‐ weight on 2 legs knees bent5. Standing ‐‐ weight on 1 leg, knee bent6. Kneeling ‐‐ 1 or 2 knees touching the ground7. Walking or moving

Industry: Construction 1997 – 561 workers reported musculoskeletal problems and

work-related illness. In a survey conducted by the Institute for Occupational

Safety & Health (IOSH) of the R.O.C. in1997, 531 construction workers in northern Taiwan were interviewed concerning their experience with musculoskeletal symptoms and work related problems.

97% experienced musculoskeletal symptoms of numerous kinds over the previous 12 months.

Low back pain was the major body symptom reported. 38% of the workers experienced low back pain. Aches in the upper extremities were also very common.

Objectives:◦ Analyze working postures for the form, iron

reinforcement, cement and scaffold jobs on two building construction sites.

◦ Develop recommendations for work improvement for the construction jobs observed.

◦ Discuss the adequacy of using OWAS in identifying awkward postures for the construction jobs observed.

Methodology◦ OWAS software (CCOWAS) / OWAS form

A simple analysis software to analyze workers’ posture and determine classification.

◦ 1.5Hr Video recording of each worker Video freeze every 30sec to determine the

classification. Site visit – to observe and record all

activities.

Result

Li, Lee, 1999, Postural Analysis of Four Jobs on Two Building Construction Sites: an Experience of Using the OWAS Method in Taiwan, Journal of Occupational Health.

http://www.ttl.fi/en/ergonomics/methods/workload_exposure_methods/table_and_methods/Documents/OWAS.pdf, Accessed on 2 November 2012.

http://www.pdn.ac.lk/eng/old/mechanical/menu/class/downloads/notes/OWAS%20method.pdf, Accessed on 2 November 2012.

http://www.tiam.eu/links/OWAS.pdf, Accessed on 2 November 2012.