Comparison of Ergonomic Risk Analysis Methods for Working Postures of Forest Nursery Workers

Abstract

The chores of forest nursey workers are comprised of manual labor based on the physical structure of the worker. Long term working postures repeated throughout the shift results in strains at various levels in the body of the worker thereby having adverse impacts on their performances. There are various methods developed in literature for ergonomic risk assessment. The purpose of this study was to examine the working postures of nursery workers working at the Bayburt and Hendek forest nurseries and to analyze problematic working postures using the ergonomic risk analysis methods of OWAS (Owako Working position Analysis System), REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment), and RULA (Rapid Upper Limbs Assessment) the reliabilities of which have been proven in literature. This result reveals that hazardous and very hazardous ratios in working postures were 4.6%, 8%, 20% in OWAS, REBA, and RULA methods, respectively. Based on the opinion that the method yielding greater risks is more sensitive for eliminating the risks in the shortest amount of time, it can be put forth that the RULA method gave more sensitive results in comparison with the OWAS and REBA methods.