Ergonomics Assessment Tools: Your Guide to Choosing What’s Right for Your Workplace

Keeping employees safe while improving productivity is a top priority for every business. But traditional ergonomics assessments? They often rely on manual evaluations, that while useful, can be time-consuming, inconsistent, and prone to human error.

Inseer™, a pioneering company in AI-powered ergonomics, is transforming the risk assessment process. They combine advanced machine learning (ML) and computer vision with trusted ergonomics assessment tools. The result? A comprehensive and quantitative evaluation of workplace risks designed to help you identify job hazards in less time and with greater accuracy than ever before.

Inseer’s AI-driven platform incorporates 5 standardized ergonomics assessment tools

Each tool quantifies different aspects of ergonomic stress. Together, they create a holistic view of workplace risk. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA)

• Evaluates the ergonomic risk associated with the upper extremities (neck, trunk, and upper limbs).

• Scores postures based on joint angles, muscle loading, and task duration.

• Helps identify poor postures that could lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

2. Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA)

• Similar to RULA but assesses the entire body.

• Ideal for evaluating tasks that involve multiple body parts in motion.

• Assigns risk scores to help prioritize ergonomic interventions

3. NIOSH Lifting Equation

• Provides guidelines on safe lifting limits to avoid exertion and back injuries.

• Calculates the Recommended Weight Limit (RWL) and Lifting Index (LI) based on parameters such as horizontal and vertical location, vertical hand difference between start and end of the lift and frequency.

• Essential tool used for reducing risks of lower back injuries.

4. Liberty Mutual Analysis Tools

• Identify the psychophysical limit to manual material handling tasks. Tools are designed to quantify subjective tolerance to the physical strain experienced during pushing, pulling, lifting, lowering, and carrying.

• Determine the acceptable force limits and population percentile capable for the evaluated tasks.

• Utilized for designing safer manual handling workflows to help prevent injuries related to excessive exertion and force application.

5. Revised Strain Index

• Assesses the physical demands of hand-intensive work tasks, affecting the distal upper extremities (elbow, wrist/hand).

• Focuses on exertions and wrist posture to determine level of risk.

Comparing ergonomics assessment tools

How these tools work together to improve workplace safety

• RULA and REBA focus on posture and musculoskeletal strain and are considered screening tools. Based on results, a deeper dive using more advanced tools may be necessary.

• NIOSH Lifting Equation and Liberty Mutual Lift Guidelines address lifting and lowering loads safety. Each tool provides information on the level of risk and acceptable weight of the load for handling.

• Liberty Mutual Push and Pull provides safe limits for the current task’s push or pull force application.

• Liberty Mutual Carry reviews material handling where carrying occurs, providing a maximum load weight allowed for the evaluated task.

• Revised Strain Index evaluates the distal upper extremities (hand/wrist and elbow) when performing hand-intensive job tasks, resulting in a level of risk for the task.

Why choose Inseer as your AI solution for ergonomics risk assessments?

• Greater accuracy: AI-driven analysis takes human error out of the equation and provides objective, quantifiable insights.

• Faster assessments: Real-time evaluations free up ergonomists to focus on preventing injuries before they happen.

• Predictive capabilities: ML algorithms analyze past data to predict future risks, allowing preemptive interventions.

• Cost reduction: Decreasing workplace injuries leads to lower healthcare costs, reduced absenteeism, and higher productivity.

• Regulatory compliance: Ensures that workplace safety measures align with industry standards and guidelines.

Key takeaway

By bringing all these tools together into one AI-powered platform, Inseer takes the risk assessment process to the next level. Rather than relying on separate evaluations, you get a full-picture view of workplace risks and one centralized location to store all your data for easy, reliable access.