Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers (대한산업공학회지)

Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers (대한산업공학회)
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Comparison of Observational Posture Evaluation Methods based on Maximum Holding Times

최대 지속 시간에 근거한 관찰적 자세 평가 기법의 평가

  • Moon, Chanyoung (Mobile handset R&D center, LG Electronics) ;
  • Na, Seokhee (Division of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, POSTECH) ;
  • Kee, Dohyung (Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Keimyung University) ;
  • Chung, Min K. (Division of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, POSTECH)
  • 문찬영 (LG전자 단말연구소) ;
  • 나석희 (포항공과대학교 기계산업공학부) ;
  • 기도형 (계명대학교 산업시스템공학과) ;
  • 정민근 (포항공과대학교 기계산업공학부)
  • Published : 2005.12.30
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Abstract

This study aims to measure maximum holding times(MHTs) of symmetric and asymmetric whole body postures, and to compare three representative observational methods including OWAS, RULA, REBA, based on the MHTs. An experiment was conducted for obtaining the MHTs, in which hand position was used as experimental variable, and the MHT and subjective discomfort rating as dependent variables. The hand position was defined by the percentage of the shoulder height(%SH), the percentage of the arm reach(%AR) and rotation angle(R). The results showed that three independent variables of %SH, %AR and R significantly affected on the MHTs at ${\alpha}$=0.01, and that the MHTs were negatively linearly related to the discomfort scores of Borg CR10. It was also revealed that OWAS and REBA were less sensitive to postural stress than RULA. In addition, OWAS and REBA underestimated postural load of given postures compared to RULA. Therefore, it is recommended that among the three observational methods investigated in this study, RULA be used for a more precise evaluation of postural load.

Keywords

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