Prepare input data
Input File
In the Excel Input File called "RULAInputFile.xlsx" (sheet "InputsRULA"), there is a list of postures that should be evaluated with a given posture scoring scale (an integer value). This list has an implicit segmentation in two parts: The first part is related to arm and wrist and the second one is related to neck, trunk and legs. These two parts have additional adjustments that should be part of the evaluation.
Locate upper arm position
For upper arm position, there is a range of scores between +1 and +4. These scores are related to the different positions of the upper arm performed in the job task chosen on the previous step, and this scoring scale could be seen in the Figure 2:
After to choose the most suitable score for this posture, it should be introduce it on the "Locate upper arm position" - "Score" (Figure 3):
Adjust upper arm
In order to evaluate other aspects of the posture, an adjustment of the previous score should be made with the criteria given in Table 1:
Table 1:
Observation | Score |
If shoulder is raised | +1 |
If upper arm is abducted | +1 |
If arm is supported or person is leaning | +0 |
After to choose the most suitable adjustment, it should be introduce it on the "Adjust upper arm" - "Score" (Figure 4). In case of no necessary adjustment, the score should be considered zero "0".
Locate lower arm position
For lower arm position, there is a range of scores between +1 and +2. These scores are related to the different positions of the lower arm performed in the job task chosen, and this scoring scale could be seen in the Figure 5:
After to chose the most suitable score for this posture, it should be introduce it on the "Locate lower arm position" - "Score" (Figure 6):
Adjust lower arm
In order to evaluate other aspects of the posture, an adjustment of the previous score should be made with the criteria given in Table 2:
Table 2:
Observation | Score |
If either arm is working across midline or out to side of body: Add | +1 |
After to choose the most suitable adjustment, it should be introduce it on the "Adjust lower arm" - "Score" (Figure 7). In case of no necessary adjustment, the score should be considered zero "0".
Locate wrist position
For locate wrist position, there is a range of scores between +1 and +3. These scores are related to the different positions of the wrist performed in the job task chosen and this scoring scale could be seen in the figure 8:
After to chose the most suitable score for this posture, it should be introduce it on the "Locate wrist position" - "Score" (Figure 9):
Adjust wrist
In order to evaluate other aspects of the posture, an adjustment of the previous score should be made with the criteria given in Table 3:
Table 3:
Observation | Score |
If wrist is bent from midline: Add | +1 |
After to choose the most suitable adjustment, it should be introduce it on the "Adjust wrist" - "Score" (Figure 10). In case of no necessary adjustment, the score should be considered zero "0".
Wrist twist
For wrist twist position, there are two scores: +1 and +2. These scores are related to the different twist movements of the wrist, performed in the job task chosen. The motivations of this scoring scale could be seen in the Table 4:
Table 4:
Observation | Score |
If wrist is twisted in mid-range | +1 |
If wrist is at or near end of range | +2 |
After to chose the most suitable score for this posture, it should be introduce it on the "Wrist twist" - "Score" (Figure 11):
Add arm muscle use on arms and wrist
For the usage of the arm muscle, there is a score of +1. This score is related to the different efforts of the arm and wrist muscle performed in the job task chosen and this scoring scale could be seen in the Table 5:
Table 5:
Observation | Score |
If posture mainly static (i.e. held>1 minute) | +1 |
If action repeated occurs 4X per minute | +1 |
After to choose the most suitable score for this adjustment, it should be introduce it on the "Add Arm Muscle use score A" - "Score" (Figure 11). In case of no necessary adjustment, the score should be considered zero "0".
Add force/load on arms and wrist
For the force/load on arms and wrist, there is a range of scores between +0 and +3. These scores are related to the different ranges of weight of the force/load performed by arms and wrist in the job task chosen and this scoring scale could be seen in the Table 6:
Table 6:
Observation | Score |
If load < 4.4 lbs. (intermittent) | +0 |
If load 4.4 to 22 lbs. (intermittent) | +1 |
If load 4.4 to 22 lbs. (static or repeated) | +2 |
If more than 22 lbs. or repeated or shocks | +3 |
After to choose the most suitable score for this adjustment, it should be introduce it on the "Add Force/Load score A" - "Score" (Figure 13).
Locate neck position
For locate neck position, there is a range of scores between +1 and +4. These scores are related to the different positions of the neck performed in the job task chosen and this scoring scale could be seen in the figure 14:
After to chose the most suitable score for this posture, it should be introduce it on the "Locate neck position" - "Score" (Figure 15):
Adjust neck
In order to evaluate other aspects of the posture, an adjustment of the previous score should be made with the criteria given in Table 7:
Table 7:
Observation | Score |
If neck is twisted | +1 |
If neck is side bending | +1 |
After to choose the most suitable adjustment, it should be introduce it on the "Adjust neck" - "Score" (Figure 16). In case of no necessary adjustment, the score should be considered zero "0".
Locate trunk position
For locate trunk position, there is a range of scores between +1 and +4. These scores are related to the different positions of the trunk performed in the job task chosen and this scoring scale could be seen in the figure 17:
After to chose the most suitable score for this posture, it should be introduce it on the "Locate trunk position" - "Score" (Figure 18):
Adjust trunk
In order to evaluate other aspects of the posture, an adjustment of the previous score should be made with the criteria given in Table 8:
Table 8:
Observation | Score |
If trunk is twisted | +1 |
If trunk is side bending | +1 |
After to choose the most suitable adjustment, it should be introduce it on the "Adjust trunk" - "Score" (Figure 19). In case of no necessary adjustment, the score should be considered zero "0".
Legs
For locate legs position, there are two scores: +1 and +2. These scores are related to the different positions of the legs performed in the job task chosen and this scoring scale could be seen in the Table 9:
Table 9:
Observation | Score |
If legs and feet are supported | +1 |
If legs and feet are not supported | +2 |
After to chose the most suitable score for this posture, it should be introduce it on the "Legs" - "Score" (Figure 20):
Add muscle use on neck, trunk and legs
For the usage of the muscle on neck, trunk and legs, there is a score of +1. This score is related to the different efforts of the neck, trunk and legs muscle performed in the job task chosen and this scoring scale could be seen in the Table 10:
Table 10:
Observation | Score |
If posture mainly static (i.e. held>1 minute) | +1 |
If action repeated occurs 4X per minute | +1 |
After to choose the most suitable score for this adjustment, it should be introduce it on the "Add Muscle use score B" - "Score" (Figure 21). In case of no necessary adjustment, the score should be considered zero "0".
Add force/load on neck, trunk and legs
For the force/load on neck, trunk and legs, there is a range of scores between +0 and +3. These scores are related to the different ranges of weight of the force/load performed by neck, trunk and legs in the job task chosen and this scoring scale could be seen in the Table 11:
Table 11:
Observation | Score |
If load < 4.4 lbs. (intermittent) | +0 |
If load 4.4 to 22 lbs. (intermittent) | +1 |
If load 4.4 to 22 lbs. (static or repeated) | +2 |
If more than 22 lbs. or repeated or shocks | +3 |
After to choose the most suitable score for this adjustment, it should be introduce it on the "Add Force/Load score B" - "Score" (Figure 22). In case of no necessary adjustment, the score should be considered zero "0".
For a matter of information, it will be presented the three following sheets in the RULA Input File: "TableA" (Figure 23), "TableB" (Figure 24) and "TableC" (Figure 25). They are part of the theoretical basis of the RULA methodology and represent the different combinations of the scores chosen in the previous sheet "Input File" classified by:
TableA or Section A: Arms (Upper and Lower), Wrist and Wrist Twist
TableB or Section B: Neck, Trunk and Legs
TableC or Section C: Final result from combination of both, final score TableA and final score TableB.
Remember the user must not complete any information in those tables, that's why after to finish the process of choose the different scores, the RULA Input File must be save it. Finally, this document will be imported into Python in order to continue with the programming part in the next steps.
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