As Prepared by Timothy 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

TRUNK (TORSO)

ARMS

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 comparing to baseline

Epidemiology/Research
Measure exposure for doseresponse models

Standards of posture for neck, arms, trunk and lower body. Observe bodys 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 30 3. Bent to side pure lateral bending more than 30 4. Bent backward extension more than 30 5. Twisted axial twisting more than 45

1. Both arms below shoulder height (neutral) 2. One arm above shoulder height; elbow above shoulder height 3. 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. Sitting 2. Standing weight on 2 legs, knees straight 3. Standing weight on 1 leg, knees straight 4. Standing weight on 2 legs knees bent 5. Standing weight on 1 leg, knee bent 6. Kneeling 1 or 2 knees touching the ground 7. 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/workloa d_exposure_methods/table_and_methods/Docume nts/OWAS.pdf, Accessed on 2 November 2012. http://www.pdn.ac.lk/eng/old/mechanical/menu/c lass/downloads/notes/OWAS%20method.pdf, Accessed on 2 November 2012. http://www.tiam.eu/links/OWAS.pdf, Accessed on 2 November 2012.