COMPARİSON OF REBA, RULA AND OWAS ERGONOMİC RİSK ASSESSMENT METHODS: AN EXAMPLE OF A CAR TİRE BUSİNESS

Abstract

Ergonomics has an important place in the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. In order to prevent musculoskeletal disorders, it is necessary to identify all risk factors that occur during work. This study was conducted to examine and compare the working postures of employees in an auto tire company in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey while changing tires with REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment), RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) and OWAS (Owako Working Position Analysis System) ergonomic risk analysis methods. The data of the study were obtained by the researcher by taking photographs of the employees and written consent of the employees was obtained. It was determined that auto tire workers exhibit seven different working postures due to their work. When the ergonomic risk assessment results of the employees for seven different working postures were analyzed, it was seen that REBA, RULA and OWAS ergonomic risk assessment methods did not give the same results. In addition, in this study, OWAS and REBA final scores were lower than RULA final scores. It is thought that this study will be a sample guide for occupational physicians, occupational safety specialists, and graduate and doctoral students working with the musculoskeletal system.