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Postural analysis is crucial
Postural analysis is crucial
Posted in: Newsletters
12/04/2024
264 views

More than 30% of workplace accidents are linked to poor posture or repetitive movements, according to EU-OSHA. These...

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Understanding RULA: Improve your ergonomic assessments with LEA
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Posted in: Newsletters
11/06/2024
1007 views

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Back or shoulders? Only 10% of workers at risk on both fronts - What does this mean?
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Posted in: Newsletters
09/10/2024
727 views

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Optimized ergonomics with LEA - Save time and reduce the risk of MSD
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Posted in: Newsletters
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888 views

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Understanding RULA: Improve your ergonomic assessments with LEA

1007 Views
 

RULA stands for Rapid Upper Limb Assessment.

It’s an ergonomic assessment method developed in 1993 by Dr. Lynn McAtamney and Professor E. Nigel Corlett at the University of Nottingham.

By creating this tool, their goal was to develop an analysis method to examine work environments where work-related musculoskeletal disorders are observed.

The RULA method quickly assesses the postures of the neck, trunk, and upper limbs, as well as muscle activity and external loads applied to the body.

In practice, it’s a tool that helps determine if a working position may cause pain or injuries. Its main advantage is that it doesn't require any specific equipment.

How does it work?

By observing how a person uses their body at work—for example, how they hold their arms, neck, or back—"risk points" are assigned.

The higher the score, the greater the risk to their health. This score indicates whether changes are needed in the way of working to avoid issues and protect the person.

For a better understanding, let's take the example of the back. Here's what the RULA scoring guide says:

  • If the back is straight (0° angle), assign a score of 1.
  • If the back is tilted between 0° and 20° forward, assign a score of 2.
  • If the back is tilted between 20° and 60° forward, assign a score of 3.
  • If the back is tilted beyond 60° forward, assign a score of 4.

Additionally, if my back is in side bending (lateral flexion) or twisted (rotating), I add a +1 point for each movement.

explication de la méthode RULA

So, the back score ranges from 1 to 6. The higher it is, the more the posture poses a risk to the back.

A low score indicates that the position is relatively safe, while a high score means more pressure or strain on the back increases the risk of pain or injury.

A complete RULA scoring guide is available for you : Download the RULA guide

For each upper-body joint, a score is assigned. This score considers the angle of posture, muscle effort, and load on the joint. Other criteria are also evaluated, such as overall posture, movement repetitiveness, and load handling.

All these scores are then combined to provide an overall score that reflects the level of risk for the entire body.

This score helps determine the urgency of intervention: a low score indicates a low risk, while a high score signals the need for quick action to prevent injuries and improve working posture.

Why do we need RULA?

  1. Objectivity in postural analysis

RULA provides a clear scoring guide, which eliminates personal bias. The results are standardized: each posture is evaluated the same way, regardless of the evaluator, preventing interpretation differences.

  1. Helps with decision-making

RULA scores provide concrete numbers, making it easier to identify critical situations. No more hesitation about intervention urgency: a high score indicates the need for immediate action.

    1. Need for effective prevention of postural risks.

    Accurate assessments allow for tailored measures to prevent pain and sick leave before they occur.

    Alternatives - NIOSH and REBA

    There are several ergonomic risk assessment tools, each useful depending on the work context and task types. Two are particularly common:

    • NIOSH Lifting Equation: This method analyzes risks associated with lifting loads by calculating the maximum safe weight to lift, considering posture and lifting frequency. It is ideal for environments where manual work involves regularly lifting objects.
    • REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment): This tool extends RULA to the whole body.

    RULA remains essential

    RULA is particularly useful since MSDs (musculoskeletal disorders) mainly affect the upper body, like the back and shoulders.

    This type of pain and pathology is prevalent, and RULA allows us to precisely target these critical areas without wasting time analyzing the entire body.

    Its simplicity and effectiveness make it a standard in many industries, especially for positions involving repetitive movements and uncomfortable postures.

     RULA remains the tool of choice for a quick and specific assessment of upper-body risks.

    Make MSD prevention a priority with LEA

    By integrating LEA into your daily routine:

    • Identify postural risks precisely.
    • Save time with automated calculations of RULA biomechanical scores.
    • Implement corrective actions based on reliable data.
    • Improve your employees' well-being.
    • Reduce costs associated with MSDs through proactive prevention.

     

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