• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2005

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.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.138-143
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the ergonomic risk factors in beekeeping, and to evaluate the effectiveness of assistive device hive lift. Methods: This study included 30 subjects of beekeeper in Pocheon, Korea. We assessed the ergonomic risk of main task in beekeeping with NLE, OWAS and evaluate the effectiveness of hive lift. We also surveyed prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among the subjects based on the Korea Working Condition Survey. Results: Moving to different floral origin, internal inspection of beehives, feeding syrup is the most burdensome to musculoskeletal system (NLE LI value=2~3. OWAS action category=4). The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms (lower and upper extremities) among the subjects was over 80 %. The introduction of assistive devices in the three hazardous tasks has dramatically reduced the risk by removing manual lifting hives (OWAS action category<1). Conclusions: Beekeeping is a heavy workload on the musculoskeletal system because it has a lot of manual lifting task. As a result of applying the hive lift, the burden could be reduced.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.74-84
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• 2023

This paper is the result of a comparative analysis of crew members' workloads using the EMG and OWAS methods according to the fishing process before and after the improvement of the operating system of the experimental vessel, with the aim of improving operational efficiency and safety work of coastal improved stow net fishing vessels. The target crew members were three people with at least five years of experience on board the same fishing vessel as the experimental vessel. After improving the operating system, such as installing a power block crane and two capstans, change the location of the ball-roller, the time required for setting and hauling work decreased (p < .01), and the evaluation results by OWAS showed that the overall workload for setting and hauling net work decreased. The results of muscle activity analysis showed a decrease in lashing anchor work (p < .01) in the case of hauling net and in anchor dropping work in the case of setting net (p < .001). It is judged that the use of ball rollers in net handling has been reduced; consequently, work safety has been improved.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.81-88
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• 2014

This study identified the complaint ratio of musculoskeletal symptom by 119 EMTs and investigated the work risk extent through ergonomics evaluation about the patient transport works, which cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) to 119 EMTs. For this, the complaint ratio of musculoskeletal symptom utilized questionnaire tool based on KOSHA Code H-30-2008 and the risk extent about the patient transport work evaluated by using ergonomics evaluation tools such as OWAS, RULA and REBA. According to the study result, 60.9% of 119 EMTs experienced musculoskeletal symptom. Among them, the symptom on back was the most common (36.1%). The work, which mostly causes WMSDs, has been found as patient transport work (48.4%). Among the patient transport motion, loading/unloading of ambulance cot to/from ambulance and the lifting of patient by stretcher were OWAS risk-level 3 and RULA/REBA risk-level 3 to 4. Among the patient transport environment, carrying patient on stairway using emergency mini-stretcher, moving patient in vehicle using spine board and piggy-back carrying or cradle carrying patient on stairway or slope way were OWAS, RULA, REBA risk level 3 to 4. It is suggested that immediate improvement in work postures for these works should contribute to prevention against WMSDs to 119 EMTs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.2
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• pp.210-216
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• 2021

Musculoskeletal disorders affect workers' safety in most industries, and forest operations are classified as a musculoskeletal burden according to the Occupational Safety and Health Act in South Korea. In particular, felling and delimbing operations are mainly conducted by manpower, and then, it is necessary to evaluate ergonomic risk assessment for safety of felling and delimbing workers. Three ergonomic risk assessment methods, such as Ovako Working posture Analysis System (OWAS), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), are available for assessing exposure to risk factors associated with timber harvesting operations. Here, three ergonomic risk assessment methods were applied to examine ergonomic risk assessments in chainsaw felling and delimbing operations. Additionally, exposure to risk factors in each method was analyzed to propose an optimal working posture in felling and delimbing operations. The risk levels of these operations were evaluated to be highest in the RULA method, followed by the OWAS and REBA methods, and most of the exposed working postures were examined with a low-risk level of two and three without requiring any immediate working posture changes. However, two significant working postures, including the bending posture of the waist and leg in felling operation and standing posture on the fallen trees in delimbing operation, were assessed as the high-risk level and needed immediate working posture changes. Low-risk work levels were examined in the squatting posture for felling operation and the straightened posture of the waist and leg for delimbing operation. Moreover, the slope in felling operation and the tree height in delimbing operation significantly affected risk level assessment of working posture. Therefore, our study supports that felling and delimbing workers must operate with low-risk working postures for safety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.90-95
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to find the musculoskeletal stress problems at chicken farms in Korea. One typical chicken farm was surveyed in this study. NLE(NIOSH Lifting Equation), REBA(Rapid Entire Body Assessment), and OWAS(Ovako Working Analysis System) were used to evaluate the extent of the musculoskeletal stress. It was found that there were some tasks which required fast innovation. It was also found that the RWL (Recommended Weight of Lift) was 4.6Kg. that was lower than weights which were handled by these workers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Industrial Safety Conference
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.307-312
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• 1998

In forklift operations, awkward postures due to backward driving may put drivers to the risk of CTD or low back pain. In this research, 6 forklift drivers were surveyed with OWAS for objective posture evaluation and bodymaps for self-report evaluation. The backward driving happened more frequently than forward driving as expected, and, as work hours passed by, the drivers naturally tended to assume the easier work postures in inverse proportion to the frequency of the backward operations. According to the results of OWAS, 60 % of the work postures in the forklift operations belonged to the category II, III, and IV classified serious. Especially, in the backward driving, the postures with the neck twisted over $45^{\circ}$ occupied 82.4 %. In addition, discomfort on the neck, left shoulder, and low back was frequently reported in the self-reports.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2011.06a
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• pp.22-24
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• 2011

본 연구는 예부선 선원이 해상작업 시 발생할 수 있는 근골격계 부담 작업의 위험성을 평가 하기위해 실행되었다. 근골격계 부담 작업은 예부선 선원들의 인터뷰, 작업 분석, 자세 평가를 통해 분석을 통해 분석이 되었으며, 도출된 근골격계 부담 작업은 인간공학 분야에서 작업자세 평가 도구인 OWAS, REBA를 활용하여 분석을 실시하였다. 분석을 위해 오일 탱커 부선에서 작업을 하는 예부선 선원들의 송유관 체결 작업과 모선과 접안을 위한 줄 잡기 작업을 분석하였으며 해당 작업들은 OWAS 점수 3점과 REBA 점수 9점 이상으로 해당 작업이 근골격계에 부담되는 작업이며 작업자세 교정이 필요한 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 예부선 작업환경의 위험성이 외부환경에 대한 위협뿐만 아니라 작업자의 작업자세가 장기적인 위협을 보이고 있음을 보여주었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.123-124
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• 2019

In the labor-intensive construction site, potential threats of the musculoskeletal diseases mainly caused by various repetitive physical tasks, vulnerable environment, and the aging of the labor worker exist. However, quantitative measuring method of construction labor worker's work posture has not been improved yet. This study proposed musculoskeletal measuring method by using wearable motion recognition sensor for quantitative evaluation and analysis of working posture of construction workers. This method is expected to be used as a basic data for posture analysis and prevention construction safety accidents, as well as physical workload and labor productivity analysis by labor work type.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2003

This study is an attempt to analyze the physical load by the type of the nursing tasks at the neurosurgical ICU nurses through the quantitative analysis of the working postures by the type of the nursing tasks with the OWAS(Ovako Working Postures Analysis System). Data collection was conducted through the video recording of the 13 nurses working at the neurosurgical ICU. For the analysis of the work postures by the type of the nursing tasks, and were interviewed regarding the subjective degree of the difficulties with the work postures related to the tasks. Collected data was analyzed through the WinOWAS program. The results were as follows : AC3 or AC4 tasks among the 18 nursing tasks types are "occupied bed making and change of the patient gown", "back massage", "suction", "elimination management", "change of position", "adjustment of bed", "helping the patient to move","measurement of CVP"and "measurement of urine volume". It appears that these tasks are harmful to the musculoskeletal system and the improvement or change of the work is required. The results stated above indicate that improper working postures during the nursing tasks influence the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, making use of assistant devices for the improvement of the working environment at the nursing tasks, based on human technological diagnoses, is required regarding the duty types with massive work pressure known to be harmful to the musculoskeletal system among those performed by the nurses. And there is a need of the education about the employment and maintenance of the vocational back pain prevention.