Comparing the Effectiveness of Three Ergonomic Risk Assessment Methods-RULA, LUBA, and NERPA-to Predict the Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders.
Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2018 Jan-Apr; 22(1):17-21.IJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Musculoskeletal disorders are a major problem in all jobs. Several methods are available for assessing the exposure to risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders. This study is aimed at comparing three different ergonomic risk assessment methods-rapid upper limb assessment (RULA), loading on the upper body assessment (LUBA), and new ergonomic posture assessment (NERPA) method-to predict upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted on 210 workers from three different industries including pharmaceutical, automotive, and assembly in the Isfahan province. A Nordic questionnaire was used for determining the levels of musculoskeletal disorders. Then, selected postures were evaluated with RULA, LUBA, and NERPA methods. Finally, data were analyzed with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to check the normality distribution of data, Spearman's correlation test to investigate the correlation between the assessed levels with musculoskeletal disorders, and Wilcoxon test to identify significant differences between the values with SPSS version 16.

RESULTS

Wilcoxon test revealed a significant difference between the values related to NERPA and RULA (P < 0.001), whereas no significant relation between LUBA and RULA was shown by this test (P = 0.914). The correlation coefficients of the musculoskeletal disorders' level with RULA level, NERPA level, and LUBA level were 0.74, 0.73, and 0.69, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Low-risk levels in NERPA, medium-risk levels in LUBA, and high-risk levels in RULA are evaluated better. The results showed that RULA was the best method for assessing musculoskeletal disorders among the three methods.

Links

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Yazdanirad S

Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Khoshakhlagh AH

Department of Occupational Health, School of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

Habibi E

Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Zare A

Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Zeinodini M

Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Dehghani F

Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

29743780

Citation

Yazdanirad, Saeid, et al. "Comparing the Effectiveness of Three Ergonomic Risk Assessment Methods-RULA, LUBA, and NERPA-to Predict the Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders." Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 22, no. 1, 2018, pp. 17-21.

Yazdanirad S, Khoshakhlagh AH, Habibi E, et al. Comparing the Effectiveness of Three Ergonomic Risk Assessment Methods-RULA, LUBA, and NERPA-to Predict the Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2018;22(1):17-21.

Yazdanirad, S., Khoshakhlagh, A. H., Habibi, E., Zare, A., Zeinodini, M., & Dehghani, F. (2018). Comparing the Effectiveness of Three Ergonomic Risk Assessment Methods-RULA, LUBA, and NERPA-to Predict the Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 22(1), 17-21. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijoem.IJOEM_23_18

Yazdanirad S, et al. Comparing the Effectiveness of Three Ergonomic Risk Assessment Methods-RULA, LUBA, and NERPA-to Predict the Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2018 Jan-Apr;22(1):17-21. PubMed PMID: 29743780.

* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case

TY - JOUR T1 - Comparing the Effectiveness of Three Ergonomic Risk Assessment Methods-RULA, LUBA, and NERPA-to Predict the Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders. AU - Yazdanirad,Saeid, AU - Khoshakhlagh,Amir Hossein, AU - Habibi,Ehsanollah, AU - Zare,Asma, AU - Zeinodini,Mohammad, AU - Dehghani,Fatemeh, PY - 2018/5/11/entrez PY - 2018/5/11/pubmed PY - 2018/5/11/medline KW - Ergonomic risk assessment KW - loading on the upper body assessment KW - musculoskeletal disorders KW - new ergonomic posture assessment KW - rapid upper limb assessment SP - 17 EP - 21 JF - Indian journal of occupational and environmental medicine JO - Indian J Occup Environ Med VL - 22 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders are a major problem in all jobs. Several methods are available for assessing the exposure to risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders. This study is aimed at comparing three different ergonomic risk assessment methods-rapid upper limb assessment (RULA), loading on the upper body assessment (LUBA), and new ergonomic posture assessment (NERPA) method-to predict upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 210 workers from three different industries including pharmaceutical, automotive, and assembly in the Isfahan province. A Nordic questionnaire was used for determining the levels of musculoskeletal disorders. Then, selected postures were evaluated with RULA, LUBA, and NERPA methods. Finally, data were analyzed with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to check the normality distribution of data, Spearman's correlation test to investigate the correlation between the assessed levels with musculoskeletal disorders, and Wilcoxon test to identify significant differences between the values with SPSS version 16. RESULTS: Wilcoxon test revealed a significant difference between the values related to NERPA and RULA (P < 0.001), whereas no significant relation between LUBA and RULA was shown by this test (P = 0.914). The correlation coefficients of the musculoskeletal disorders' level with RULA level, NERPA level, and LUBA level were 0.74, 0.73, and 0.69, respectively. CONCLUSION: Low-risk levels in NERPA, medium-risk levels in LUBA, and high-risk levels in RULA are evaluated better. The results showed that RULA was the best method for assessing musculoskeletal disorders among the three methods. SN - 0973-2284 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/29743780/Comparing_the_Effectiveness_of_Three_Ergonomic_Risk_Assessment_Methods_RULA_LUBA_and_NERPA_to_Predict_the_Upper_Extremity_Musculoskeletal_Disorders_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -

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Comparing the Effectiveness of Three Ergonomic Risk Assessment Methods-RULA, LUBA, and NERPA-to Predict the Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders.Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2018 Jan-Apr; 22(1):17-21.IJ