Ovako Working Posture

Assessment System
OWAS (1980)

• It is one of the most widely used postural load assessment methods in the world.
• OWAS identifies the most common work postures for the back (4 postures), arms (3 postures) and
legs (7 postures), and the weight of the load handled (3 categories). Whole body posture is
described by these body parts with a four digit-code to describe various postures of the back, upper
limbs, lower limbs, and the force needed.
• Interval between observations between 30 and 60 seconds; observation periods continue for 20 to
40 minutes; 10 minutes rest between each observations.
• 90% reliability for 100 observations, 7% for 200 observations, and 6% for 300 observations.
• The observed posture combinations are classified into four ordinal scale action categories, which
are based on expert’s estimates of the health hazards of each work posture or posture
combination.
TRUNK (BACK)
POSTURE

1. Straight/ Upright (back

inclined, turned or inclined
laterally less than 20 degrees)
2. Bent forward/ Inclined (angle
of inclination greater than 20
degrees)
3. Straight and twisted (angle of
rotation or lateral inclination
greater than 20 degrees)
4. Bent and twisted ( combination
of flexion, lateral bending, and/
or twisting)
ARM
POSTURE
1. Both arms below shoulder
height (neutral)
2. One arm above shoulder
height defined as elbow
above shoulder height.
3. Both arms above shoulder
height
LOWER BODY POSTURE

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,
knee bent
6. Kneeling – 1 or 2 knees
touching the ground
7. Walking or moving
LOAD/ USE OF
FORCE

1. Weight to be handled or force

required less than or equal to
10 kg.
2. Weight to be handled or force
required between 10 kg to 20
kg.
3. Weight to be handled or force
required greater than or
equal to 20 kg.
Example
• A posture with OWAS code
4161
• 4 = back bent and
twisted,
• 1 = both arms below
shoulder level,
• 6 = legs kneeling, and
• 1 = load/ effort less than
10 kg
OWAS Action Categories

Resource: (Karwowski and Marras, 2003)

RISK LEVELS
DATA PRESENTATION
CONCLUSIONS
Strength of the method
• Widely used and documented
Limitations of the method
• Does not separate right and left upper extremities; Assessments of
neck and elbows / wrists are missing ; Posture coding “crude” for
shoulders
• Time- consuming
• Does not consider repetition or duration of the sequential postures
• Decision rules based on frequency distribution are arbitrary
• The use of OWAS requires thorough training of the observation
technique as well as skills to design the observational strategy.