Ergonomics Exercises (RULA Method).

Nombre:__Hernández García Maritza___ Profesor:Dra. Raquel Muñoz Hernández

Fecha: __27/05/2020______
Group:____870602_______
Instructions: Evaluate the following cases using the RULA Method and justify each evaluated point.
PLEASE DO NOT OMIT ANY STEP.

1- It is about knowing the risk and the

performance level during a
knee arthroscopy. It has
verified that the stance that appears
in the image it is adopted in more than 20%
of the total time of the work cycle.

The surgeon works standing up and, beneath

the table has enough space for
make postural changes.

No force is needed.

This position is maintained for more than a minute.

Assessment and proposal for improvements.

The process during an arthroscopy allows for the observation of the knee joint from the inside. This
type of surgery, like any other, can cause health problems for the doctor who performs it
It is carried out. The workplace may have a reduced or limited space for the doctor to perform the
necessary activities. The doctor, when positioning the patient in front of him, can perform a greater
number of repetitions of trunk rotational movements to reach objects, as well as a high
number of head turns and lateral inclinations, as well as the position of the monitor. For example,
In the trunk area, a score of 3 was assigned, as the subject can lean more than 20°.
to perform the surgery, and a score of 2 in the legs, since he is standing. According to
a study conducted on specialist trauma doctors, the highest amount of discomfort
Musculoskeletal issues were presented in the neck (66.7%), followed by shoulder (58.3%), hand/wrist
(42.7%). The most prevalent symptom was pain (86.1%), followed by muscle fatigue (41.7%), stiffness.
muscular and loss of sensitivity (27.8%).

In this study, it was observed that 68%

the interviewees had an experience
labor between 10 and 20 years, 24% less
10 years old and only 8% older than 20 years.
As shown in the following graph.
So we can observe that the largest
percentage of respondents (68%), has
worked on the performance of arthroscopies,
minimum 10 years, this means that, if not
there is an adequate ergonomic control at the workplace, the damage to the body caused by the
work, they can now be permanent for practicing the activity for such a long time without any type of measure
ergonomic that can prevent these problems.

Upon completing the study using the RULA method, a value of 7 was obtained, therefore it is necessary
modify and study the activity. An ergonomic evaluation and training focused on the
surgeries that benefit medical professionals, strategies to perform operations without causing harm to their health
physical and mental.

Para realizar una mejora a este trabajo, se debe tomar en cuenta el espacio y si este es reducido por la
work table or devices used during the surgery. Additionally, if there are obstacles under the table
that hinders the reach, which can lead to a forced stance; therefore, it is necessary
to have an adequate team and furniture.

Similarly, ensure that the stretcher is at a height suitable for the person who will perform the procedure.
surgery, to avoid positions that may damage the neck, trunk, or arms. It is recommended to acquire
height-adjustable stretchers to facilitate handling by users,
in addition to having support staff to assist the doctor with auxiliary tasks during surgery.

Regarding psychosocial factors, situations can become tense in dealing with patients.
or with the relatives of this and the continuous justification of the work carried out, which can generate
stress. Work shifts and the physical conditions of the surgeon can also have an impact on
his performance during the surgery, due to this, the participation of the
workers in the creation of schedules to determine rest periods and the design of shifts.
I believe it is a mistake that, in Mexico, the conducting of audits in security management
Health at work is not considered an obligation, but rather an option to verify the
site conditions and whether they are under the conditions of NOM-030-STPS-2009.

Finally, the field sheet with which this problem was evaluated is shown.
2.- A worker is at a workstation with a computer for the 8 hours that their shift lasts.
journey, the screen is located next to it so you have to turn the trunk and this is
elevated in such a way that one has to tilt the head back (neck extension) to look up.
Sit down while working with your feet on the floor and your forearms on the table at an angle.
understood between 60º and 100º (we will not calculate the left side and the right side we assume they have the
same position).

Evaluation and proposal for improvements.

In office work, the dimensions of the workplace must be taken into account,
the posture of the worker and in the work environment, to provide ergonomic measures that prevent
risks in the employee. In this situation, we know that the age, sex, and proportions of the person
they can vary, however, the movements made and the posture are taken into account. The place of
work must adapt to these body measurements, for example, for a short-statured individual, it is
it is necessary to shorten the dimensions of the seat to allow the feet to rest, in addition to allowing
the rest of the legs under the table.

The results of the study using the RULA method gave us

a score of 7, so it is necessary to act as soon as possible
possible to modify the conditions of the workplace. For
in this case, it is necessary to change the screen position, since
it damages the neck when having to perform turns and lifts; the
elements that the worker uses must be in good condition Horizontal arm reach (mm)
distance for them to be available, otherwise they
they will continue to make forced movements of the trunk, causing
back or neck pain. For proper posture and reach Vertical manipulation in the sagittal plane
appropriate to the tools, dimensions should be followed as
shown in the images. On the other hand, the chair must provide
comfort and functionality, in addition to meeting certain
ergonomic requirements, such as: The seat will respond to the
following characteristics:

● Height adjustable (in seated position) adjustment range between

380 and 500 mm. ● Width between 400 - 450 mm. ● Depth
between 380 and 420 mm. ● 20 mm padding covered with flexible and breathable fabric. On the other hand
The seat will respond to the following characteristics: ● Adjustable in height (in position
sitting) margin adjustment between 380 and 500 mm. ● Width between 400 - 450 mm. ● Depth between 380
y 420 mm. ● Padding of 20 mm. covered with flexible and breathable fabric. ● Front edge
inclined (large tilt radius). Additionally, it is essential to rest your arms, as
provides stability to the hands and should be used in tasks that do not require great freedom of movement
movement.

Finally, the screen must change its location, as the monitor influences the comfort of the
workers. The monitor must have a line of sight angle between the horizontal and
the 60° below it. Likewise, any monitor must be visible from any angle.
of vision, at least up to 40° from the normal to the surface of the monitor.

The evaluation sheet with the RULA method for this situation is shown below.
3.- The posture adopted by a worker who handles metal sheets is analyzed for the
manufacturing of metal containers. The job involves separating the sheets one by one.
to prevent them from sticking during the subsequent process.

Once the images taken in video are observed, it is decided that one of the positions that will be
The one evaluated will be the left side of the image shown above, as it is initially...
it involves a significant postural load

Data:
Arm flexion between 45° and 90°
Arm in abduction and elevated shoulder
Forearm flexed at an angle of
between 60° and 100°, Wrist Flexion
between 0° and 135 Next wrist turn
the final turning range is considered for
the arm-forearm-wrist system one
muscular activity with movements
repetitive and the use of a force
characterized by shakes with
sudden and abrupt movements.
The neck is bent more than 20°
The trunk shows a bend of between 0° and 20°.
The position of the legs is considered unbalanced when the worker is elevated on a
pallet in an unstable manner.
For the neck-trunk-legs system, a muscular activity characterized by is considered
the existence of static body parts and a load/force without resistance. Determine the
risk levels and actions for the proposed situation

Assessment and proposal for improvements.

In Mexico, article number 5 of NOM-030-STPS-2009 mentions to us

a diagnosis of safety and health in the workplace should be prepared
work, similarly establish procedures, instructions, manuals
and necessary records to comply with the program.

In this situation we can observe that the subject is standing to

perform their job, therefore, according to the National Institute of Safety
and Occupational Health (INSST), the most common musculoskeletal disorders
Frequent in the industry are the torso, back, neck, and arms, just as
se muestra en la figura.

In the photograph that shows us the problem, the woman is facing a

inadequate posture, besides being standing and making a bend
from the head to observe below. Remain in this position
constantly, it can cause discomfort, inconvenience, or pain in the
joints. Pain and fatigue may occur during the workday and may persist a
moment or even months or years. The previously proposed work will be referred to as Class 3
according to the type of risk, and the subject of study is considered as an assembler and installer of
tools, machinery, and metal products. With this information, we can analyze that, according to the
Chapter XVI of the statistical report of the IMSS for 2018 shows that the statistics indicate that injuries
what else exists in this area are superficial traumas, dislocations, sprains, and tears, and
subsequently the wounds and fractures; affecting men to a greater extent. As it is
show in the following table.

The results of the ergonomic study using the RULA method indicate that it needs to be performed
an urgent study and make modifications to prevent workers at that workplace
they continue or start to cause injuries in the body.
The loading of the material must be carried out in accordance with the load handling regulations (MCM), the
which is responsible for the appearance of physical fatigue, or injuries, that can occur from a
immediate form or by the accumulation of small traumas that seem unimportant.
Some of these ideal conditions are that the operator works the load close to the body, the back
It must be straight, without inclinations; the metal sheets must be held with the wrist in a
neutral position and perform gentle and spaced lifts.
If the exposed workers are women (as in this case), they should not handle loads greater than
15kg.
Incorrect postures can contribute to making our work therefore more unpleasant and
hard, and even, that tiredness and fatigue appear more easily and that in the long term it worsens,
In addition to hindering blood circulation in the feet, muscle fatigue, back pain.
It is worth mentioning that if the trunk is tilted while handling a load, some will be generated.
compressive forces in the lumbar area are much greater than if the trunk were kept upright, which
it increases the risk of injury in that area.
The work table must be at an appropriate height to avoid a forced posture. The person
those who are exposed to this can do some muscle relaxation exercises, such as sitting in a
chair, spread the legs, cross the arms and bend the body down, or slowly turn the
head to the sides.
4.- Prepare the evaluation of a household activity, photograph the positions and angles.
To carry out this household task, the body shows a flexion greater than 20° and the position of the
Feet are not fixed and there is enough space to make position changes.
The neck is flexed more than 20° and the forearm shows a flexion of more than 60° and the arm is
found separated from the body.
La muñeca presenta movimientos de más de 15° y se encuentra en el rango medio de giro.
This position is maintained throughout the activity (more than a minute).

Assessment and proposal for improvements.

It is well known that domestic tasks do not carry much weight.
number of ergonomic research studies and manuals, without
embargo, to make the proposal for improvements to this situation, one must
investigated it.
The first observation made was that the furniture where
the activity is carried out does not have the necessary height to avoid
that torso flexion. Furthermore, it is not accounted for the
necessary dimensions to adequately perform the task and not
allows changing to an appropriate posture.
While working, the worker's posture is
affected by the organization of the workspace and by the
various tasks that the worker performs, so it is very
important to consider the proper design of places
work, in this case of the kitchen.
Keeping the body in a standing position requires effort
muscular that can cause damage, even if one remains large
time spent standing. If a person stands
frequently and for long periods of time, the blood clots in
the legs and the feet. When standing occurs in a way
continues for prolonged periods, it can result in inflammation of
the veins. This inflammation can progress over time until
to develop painful and chronic varicose veins. Remaining of
excessive foot movement also contributes to the
joints of the spine, hips, knees, and feet are
temporarily immobilize or block. This immobilization
It can later lead to rheumatic diseases due to degenerative damage in the tendons and
ligaments (the structures that connect muscles and bones).
The ground is stable and not slippery, however over time the water that falls from the
Cutlery and objects placed on the tray, it reaches the floor and can cause a fall if not taken care of.
the sufficient care.
On the other hand, the cloth used for drying hands or excess water is located far from the area.
where one works, which requires a turn to the back.

As observed in the analysis results by the RULA method, it is mentioned that there must be
immediate modifications to prevent health damage.
Due to the posture assumed while performing the activity, fatigue and some problems can arise.
musculoskeletal. The furniture should be adjusted to allow the user to perform the activity without
that presents flexing in the torso or forced positions of the neck or back. Therefore, it is recommended
change jobs frequently so that static work has a short duration. An activity
Domestic tasks like washing dishes do not take much time, however, they can cause
accumulated traumas in the body.
It is recommended to keep the workspace organized, this way, the tools we will use
(for example, the cloth for drying dishes), will be in a good position for handling
the same. In addition to keeping the passage area clear, since it is a small place,
we must avoid collisions or falls with other people or objects.
Another measure that will be taken is to place an absorbent object at the bottom of the furniture to
control excess water and prevent falls.
Another preventive measure that is recommended is to improve the lighting in the area, to avoid damage to the
view, this can be achieved by opening the door to let in sunlight or changing the light bulb that is in
the room.
It is worth mentioning that people who use domestic tasks as a source of income do not
they receive proper training to carry out the activities. According to provided data
by the INEGI, the value of domestic work and the care of households that were reported with the
higher level of education was mainly focused on activities related to care
and the support of household members, with 34.8% of total value. Not to mention that the
Women are those who engage in domestic activities at a higher percentage, in comparison.
with the men, as shown in the graph.

Finally, the RULA method field sheet is presented, with which the activity was evaluated and
determine your situation.
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