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Watch the job, pick the angle range for each body segment on both sides and see right away the RULA score, the action level and which change lowers the risk first.
Pre-sizing and estimating tool: results do not replace design, calculations or reports signed by a licensed professional, nor verification against the applicable codes and standards.
RULA score if only that factor were brought to neutral, largest gain first. Green: changes the action level.
Changes that lower the score, from those that change the action level to the rest.
RULA score of each workstation, worst first, colored by action level.
Intermediate and final scores of each workstation.
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It is an observational method published by McAtamney and Corlett in 1993 to screen the risk of upper-limb musculoskeletal disorders. It suits seated or standing jobs with heavy use of the arms, wrists and neck: assembly, packing, inspection, sewing, keying. In a few minutes it gives a score from 1 to 7 and an action level.
At the connector assembly station, the right side works with the upper arm between 45° and 90°, lower arm under 60°, wrist flexed over 15° and bent sideways, repetitively: table A = 5 and C = 6. Neck flexed over 20° and trunk up to 20° give B = 3 and D = 4. In table C, the final score is 6, level 3: investigate and change soon. The left side scores 4.
Watch several cycles and take photos or video from the side, at shoulder height. Measure the upper arm relative to the trunk, the lower arm relative to the upper arm, and the neck and trunk relative to vertical. A protractor app on your phone helps. When in doubt between two ranges, use the higher score.
Both, because the load is usually different: the hand holding the tool and the hand holding the part work in different postures. The calculator scores each side and uses the higher one as the workstation result. Neck, trunk and legs are common to both sides.
Score 1 or 2 (level 1): acceptable if not held or repeated for long periods. 3 or 4 (level 2): investigate further; changes may be needed. 5 or 6 (level 3): investigate and change soon. 7 (level 4): investigate and change immediately.
Look at the “What to change to drop a level” chart: it recomputes the score bringing each factor, on its own, to neutral. In the example, straightening the wrist or lowering the upper arm below 20° takes RULA from 6 to 4, from level 3 to 2. Height and part position changes are usually the cheapest.
No. OSHA has no ergonomics standard and does not prescribe a method; it can cite serious ergonomic hazards under the General Duty Clause and expects employers to identify and control them. RULA is a widely accepted screening tool to rank jobs; a full evaluation by a qualified ergonomist is still needed for high-risk jobs. For lifting tasks, use the NIOSH lifting equation.
Important notice: Indus Metrics tools produce estimates and pre-sizing results from the data you enter and from published engineering methods. They do not replace design, calculations or reports signed by a licensed professional engineer (PE), nor verification against the applicable codes, standards and regulations, such as OSHA rules and the ASME codes. Material and fuel properties vary: check manufacturer data or your own process analyses before deciding. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use.
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