1. As Prepared by Timothy Galisin 01BEHS-201005-00108

2.  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.

3. NECK ARMS TRUNK (TORSO) LOWER BODY

4.  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 dose‐response models

5.  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.

6.  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.

7.  All types of works that uses all working parts of the body.  Examples:  Agriculture  Construction  Healthcare  Steel manufacture  Education (preschool)

9. 1. Upright/free (“neutral”) 2. Bent forward ‐‐ flexion more than 30º 3. Bent to side ‐‐ “pure” lateral bending more than 30º 4. Bent backward ‐‐ extension more than 30º 5. Twisted ‐‐ axial twisting more than 45º

10. 1. Both arms below shoulder height (“neutral”) 2. One arm above shoulder height; elbow above shoulder height 3. Both arms above shoulder height

11. 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)

12. 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

13.  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.

15.  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.

16.  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.

17.  Result

20.  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.ttl.fi/en/ergonomics/methods/workloa d_exposure_methods/table_and_methods/Docume nts/OWAS.pdf  http://www.pdn.ac.lk/eng/old/mechanical/menu/c lass/downloads/notes/OWAS%20method.pdf, Accessed on 2 November 2012. http://www.pdn.ac.lk/eng/old/mechanical/menu/c lass/downloads/notes/OWAS%20method.pdf  http://www.tiam.eu/links/OWAS.pdf, Accessed on 2 November 2012. http://www.tiam.eu/links/OWAS.pdf