A Step-by-Step Guide To The RULA Assessment Tool

09/03/2021 A Step-by-Step Guide to the RULA Assessment Tool
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A Step-by-Step Guide to the RULA

Assessment Tool Mark Middlesworth | November 6
https://ergo-plus.com/rula-assessment-tool-guide/ 1/25
Learn how to conduct fast and accurate ergonomic risk

assessments using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA)
Tool.
Note: This is a lengthy guide! If you’d rather work your way through this guide
with a PDF file, click here to download step-by-step guides to all of our
recommended ergonomic assessment tools.
Rapid Upper Limb Assessment
Overview
The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) was developed to “rapidly”

evaluate the exposure of individual workers to ergonomic risk factors
associated with upper extremity MSD. The RULA ergonomic assessment tool
considers biomechanical and postural load requirements of job tasks/demands
on the neck, trunk and upper extremities.
View full size image

The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment tool uses a systematic process to evaluate
required body posture, force, and repetition for the job task being evaluated. A
single page worksheet (above) can be used to evaluate required or selected
body posture, muscle use frequency, and forceful exertions.
Rapid Upper Limb Assessment Overview

Rapid Upper Limb Assessment was developed with the following objectives
in mind:
1) To provide a method of screening a working population to assess exposure
to significant risk of work-related upper extremity disorders.
2) To identify the muscular effort which is associated with working postures
and excessive forces while performing static or repetitive work, and which may
contribute to muscle fatigue.
3) To provide a simple scoring method with an action level output that

identifies an indication of urgency. Software Services Resources Company Sign in Get a demo
4) To provide a user-friendly assessment tool that requires minimal time, effort,

and equipment.
Rapid Upper Limb Assessment Limitations:
1) Does not consider the duration of the task, available recovery time, or hand-
arm vibration.
2) Only allows the evaluator to assess one employee’s worst-case posture at
one point in time, requiring the use of representative postures.
3) Requires separate assessment of right and left sides of the body, although
in most cases you will be able to quickly determine which side of the body has
the greatest exposure to MSD risk.
The output of the RULA assessment tool is the final RULA Score, which is a
single score that represents the level ofSoftware
MSD riskServices
for the job task being
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evaluated. The minimum RULA Score = 1, and the maximum RULA Score = 7.
Outlined in the above chart are the RULA level of MSD risk descriptions and
cut points.
ErgoPlus Rapid Upper Limb Assessment Software:

We have developed a cloud based RULA calculator as a part of our ErgoPlus

Industrial platform that can be used to Software
efficientlyServices
conductResources
an assessment,
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calculate the score and save your results. Simply select the appropriate body
segment positions/postures, load force and muscle use selections to calculate
the RULA score and Risk Index.
The ErgoPlus RULA web-based calculator is shown above and you can also
check out the application here:
ErgoPlus Industrial
Getting Ready
The evaluator should prepare for the assessment by interviewing the worker
being evaluated to gain an understanding of the job tasks, and by observing
the worker’s movements and postures during several work cycles. Selection of
the postures to be evaluated should be based on:
1) the most difficult postures and work tasks (determined during worker
interview and initial observation), 2) the posture sustained for the longest
period of time, or 3) the posture where the highest force loads occur.
The RULA can be conducted quickly, so multiple positions and tasks within the
work cycle can usually be evaluated without a significant time and effort. When
using RULA, only the right or left side is assessed at a time. After interviewing
and observing the worker, the evaluator can determine if only one arm should
be evaluated or if an assessment is needed for both sides.
Determine Body Position Selections

The RULA assessment requires that you determine postural angles of six
different body positions. In most cases, you will be able to determine the body
position angle in the field as you observe the task. However, we find that it’s
very helpful to take pictures or video of the task being performed from several
angles if possible. You can then display the pictures on your computer monitor
and use a goniometer (as pictured on left) or an overlaid transparent protractor
image (as pictured on right) to measure the body segment angles. These
methods are both very quick and easy and will give you the assurance that
you’ve obtained the correct body position angles for the assessment.
Using the RULA – Example

Arm & Wrist Analysis
Upper Arm Position:


The upper arm score will be between 1-6. The score is based on the degree of
shoulder flexion or extension, along with any adjustment for the shoulder being
raised and/or abducted. Shoulder flexion is defined as anterior movement of
the upper arm in the sagittal plane (forward reaching). Shoulder extension is
defined as posterior movement of the upper arm in the sagittal plane
(backward reaching). Upper Arm (shoulder) elevation and abduction are
possible adjustments that may apply. Also note the scoring adjustment (-1)
possibility that is used if the worker’s shoulder is supported or the worker is
forward leaning in such a way that gravity assists the shoulder position.
In this example, the shoulder is flexed slightly less than 90 degrees for a score
of +3, with an upper arm adjustment (+1) selected for shoulder abduction.
Lower Arm Position:


The lower arm score will be between 1-3. The score is based on the degree of
elbow flexion or bending. Select the lower arm adjustment if either lower arm is
working across the midline or to the outside of the body.
In this example, the elbow is flexed slightly less than 60 degrees for a score of
+2. There is no adjustment for the arm working across the midline.
Wrist Position:

The wrist score will be 1-4. The score is based on the degree of wrist flexion or
extension, along with a potential adjustment of +1 if wrist deviation is required.
Select wrist twist pronation or supination) if the wrist is twisted in the mid-
range of if the wrist is twisted at or near the end of range.
In this example, the wrist is flexed greater than 15 degrees for a score of +3
and the wrist is deviated significantly, so the wrist adjustment (+1) should be
selected as shown above.
Wrist Twist:

Determine and select the degree of wrist twist depending on the degree of
forearm pronation or supination. Pronation is defined
Software as rotation
Services of the
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forearm from a neutral (thumb up) position so that the surface of the palm is
facing downward. Typical range of motion for pronation is 80-90 degrees.
Supination is defined as rotation of the hand or forearm from a neutral (thumb
up or handshake) position so that the surface of the palm is facing upward.
Typical range of motion for supination is 70-80 degrees.
In this example, the wrist is twisted in the mid-range.
(Arm and Wrist) Muscle Use & Force/Load

Analysis

The muscle use (arm & wrist) score box will be checked if the posture of the
task is mainly static (i.e. held>1 minute), or if action repeated occurs 4X per
minute. If neither condition exists, there is no entry made for the muscle use
score.
Make one of the following selections for the Load / Force score.
If load < .4.4 lbs. (intermittent) when action occurs < 4x per minute
If load 4.4 to 22 lbs. (intermittent) whenSoftware
action occurs
Services< 4xResources
per minute
If load 4.4 to 22 lbs. (static or repeated) when held > 10 minutes, or if action is
repeated occurs 4x per minute
If more than 22 lbs. or if repeated or shocks such as hammer use is required
In this example, the muscle use score is 0 and the load weight is between 4.4 –
22 lbs.
Neck, Trunk, and Leg

Neck Position:

The neck position score will be between 1-6. The score is based on the degree
of neck flexion or extension, along with any adjustment for neck twisting or
side bending (lateral flexion). Neck flexion is movement of the chin towards the
chest from a neutral neck position. NeckSoftware
extension is moving
Services the chinCompany
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from the chest (backwards) from a neutral neck position. Experts in
biomechanics use a variety of landmarks and methods to define the neutral
position (or the zero point between flexion and extension) of the neck. To keep
it really simple, I would define neutral as the posture of the head/neck when
the trunk of the body is erect (sitting or standing up straight) and looking at a
visual target directly ahead at eye level.
In this example, the neck position was determined to be between 10 – 20
degrees. In addition, side bending of the neck was observed.
Trunk Position:

The trunk position score will be between 1-6. The score is based on the degree
of trunk flexion or extension, along with any adjustment for twisting or side
bending (lateral flexion) of the trunk/back. Trunk flexion is defined as anterior

(forward) movement of the trunk in theSoftware
sagittal plane (thinkResources
Services toe touching).
Trunk extension is defined as posterior (backward) movement of the trunk in
the sagittal plane (think painting the ceiling).
In this example, the trunk position was observed to be flexed more than
nuetral up to 20 degrees. There is no significant trunk twisting or side bending,
so the trunk adjustments do not apply and neither box is checked.
Leg Position:

The leg position score will be 1 or 2. If legs and feet are supported with even
weight distribution the score is +1. If the legs and feet are not supported or
there is uneven weight distribution, the score is +2.
In this example, the legs and feet are supported and weight is evenly
ditributed, therefore the leg score is +1.
(Neck, Trunk & Leg) Muscle Use &

Force/Load Analysis
The muscle use (neck, trunk & legs) score box will be checked if the posture of
the task is mainly static (i.e. held>1 minute), or if action repeated occurs 4X per
minute. If neither condition exists, there is no entry made for the muscle use
score. Software Services Resources Company Sign in Get a demo
Make one of the following selections for the Load/Force score for the neck,
trunk, & legs.
If load < .4.4 lbs. (intermittent) when action occurs < 4x per minute
If load 4.4 to 22 lbs. (intermittent) when action occurs < 4x per minute
If load 4.4 to 22 lbs. (static or repeated) when held > 10 minutes, or if
action is repeated occurs 4x per minute
If more than 22 lbs. or if repeated or shocks such as hammer use is
required
In this example, the muscle use score is 0 and the load weight is between 4.4 –
22 lbs.
Calculate Results
After all entries are selected, press the calculate button for the results of the
assessment. The ErgoPlus RULA calculator will display the overall RULA score
and Risk Index. The RULA score represents the level of MSD risk for the job
task being evaluated. The minimum RULA Score = 1, and the maximum RULA
Score = 7. The design goal for the RULA assessment is a score of 3. The Risk
Index answers the question… “How significant is the risk?” A Risk Index value
of less than 1.0 indicates a nominal riskSoftware
to healthyServices
employees. A RiskCompany
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1.0 or more denotes that the task is high risk for some fraction of the
population. As the Risk Index increases, the level of MSD risk increases
correspondingly. Therefore, the goal is to design job tasks to accomplish a Risk
Index of 1.0 or lower.
In this example, the final RULA score of 7 and a risk index of 2.33 indicates
high risk and calls for further investigation and engineering and/or work
method changes to reduce or eliminate MSD risk.
Implemented Ergonomic
Improvements
To reduce the level of MSD risk, the assembly process was changed to install
the access plate prior to riveting the can together. A fixture was fabricated to
hold the can open while the access plate is being installed. A straight or “in-
line” pneumatic screwdriver (on a tool balancer) is now used to improve upper
extremity work postures and eliminate the force required.
A follow-up analysis using the ErgoPlus Industrial software RULA calculator

was performed upon completion of thisSoftware
ergonomic processResources
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improvement. The results are pictured above. When using the new work
process and tools, the RULA total score is reduced from 7 to 1 and the risk
index is reduced from 2.33 to .33.
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About Mark Middlesworth

Mark Middlesworth is the founder of ErgoPlus, and still enjoys educating and motivating “workplace
athletes” toward better health each and every day. Get more from Mark and ErgoPlus by signing up for
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09/03/2021 A Step-by-Step Guide to the RULA Assessment Tool

Software Services Resources Company Sign in Get a demo