Finals - (1) OWAS Flashcards
what is developed as a joint effort between Ovako Oy and the Finnish Institute for Occupational Health?
Ovako Working Assessment System
when is the Ovako Working Posture Assessment System created?
mid-1970s
what company build the Ovako Working Posture Assessment System?
Ovako Oy
it is a private steel company in Finland
Ovako Oy
what parts of the body does the OWAS posture classification system all about?
neck, trunk, lower body, and arms
why do we measure posture?
for job evaluation and redesign, for epidemiology/reseach
what determines if the current postural demands are acceptable?
job evaluation and redesign
what establish baseline to evaluate effectiveness of interventions?
job evaluation and redesign
what identify job attributes associated with awkward postures?
job evaluation and redesign
what evaluate intervention effectiveness by comparing to baseline?
job evaluation and redesign
what measure exposure for dose-response model?
epidemiology/research
what assessment system where user makes a series of instantaneous observations to record posture at 4 joints namely, trunk, arms, lower body, and neck?
OWAS
this where the percentage of time in each pre-defined category is computed
OWAS
OWAS results are compared to ___?
benchmarks
what are the 4 trunk postures?
1.) straight/upright = “neutral”
2.) bent forward = “pure flexion”
3.) straight and twisted = “pure axial and twisting
4.) bent and twisted = combination of flexion, lateral bending and/or twisting
what trunk posture is also known as “neutral” position?
straight or upright
what another name is given to the trunk posture “bent forward” ?
pure flexion
what trunk posture is also known as “pure axial twisting” position?
straight and twisted
the bent and twisted trunk posture is a combination of ___?
flexion, lateral bending and/or twisting
what are the 3 arm postures?
1.) both arms below shoulder height = “neutral”
2.) one arm above shoulder height
3.) both arms above shoulder height
what arm posture is also known as “neutral” position?
both arms below shoulder height
this is define as elbow above shoulder height
one arm above shoulder height
what are the 7 lower back postures?
1.) sitting
2.) standing (weight on 2 legs, knees straight)
3.) standing (weight on 1 leg, knees straight)
4.) standing (weight on 2 legs, knees bent)
5.) standing (weight on 1 leg, knees bent)
6.) kneeling (1 or 2 knees touching the ground
7.) walking or moving
what are the 5 head and neck posture?
1.) upright/free = “neutral”
2.) bent forward =flexion more than 30°
3.) bent to side = pure lateral bending more than 30°
4.) bent backward = extension more than 30°
5.) twisted = axial twisting more than 45°
what head and neck posture flexion more than 30°?
bent forward
what head and neck posture is the neutral position?
upright/free
what head and neck posture is axial twisting more than 45°?
twisted
what head and neck posture extension more than 30°?
bent backward
what head and neck posture is pure lateral bending more than 30°?
bent to side
what is the OWAS stress ranking system?
normal posture, slightly harmful, distinctly harmful, extremely harmful
in the OWAS ranking system, this means corrective action should be taken as soon as possible?
distinctly harmful
in the OWAS ranking system, this means corrective action should be taken during next regular review of work methods?
slightly harmful
in the OWAS ranking system, this means corrective action should be take immediately?
extremely harmful
in the OWAS ranking system, this means no intervention is required?
normal posture
what is one of the advantages of OWAS where results can be compared against benchmarks to establish intervention priority?
relatively easy to learn and use
what are the other 3 advantages of OWAS?
1.) scores at each body part can be used for “before” and “after” comparisons to evaluate intervention effectiveness
2.) score at each body part can be used in epidemiological studies
3.) relatively easy to customize system to specific user needs
what are the weaknesses of OWAS?
1.) posture categories are rather broad for the trunk and shoulders
2.) no information on duration of postures
3.) method does not separate left and right arms
4.) method gives no information for the elbow or wrist
