Cumulative Ergonomic Risk Assessment Across Multi-Task Joint Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ergonomic assessment tools fail to consider the cumulative burden of performing multiple tasks, requiring ergonomics knowledge for interpretation and lacking comprehensive evaluation of risks across various body parts.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that assesses cumulative ergonomic risk by determining total time durations for each joint at different risk levels, integrating insights from OCRA, RULA, and REBA, and employing a fuzzy knowledge-based expert system to generate categorical and score-based assessments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing ergonomic assessment tools are used to evaluate individual tasks, then ergonomic risk can be assessed for single tasks, but the cumulative burden of performing multiple tasks is not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual task assessments into a cumulative ergonomic risk assessment system. It aggregates ergonomic risk data from multiple tasks performed by an operator, accumulating time durations at different risk levels across tasks to provide a comprehensive evaluation that considers the cumulative burden of performing multiple tasks sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides a universal assessment framework that can evaluate any combination of tasks performed by an operator. It handles multiple risk levels (low, medium, high) and accumulates exposure across different tasks, making the tool versatile for assessing various work scenarios and task sequences.
2Extent of automation
If existing DHM software is used for ergonomic analysis, then simulation results can be obtained, but ergonomics knowledge is required to interpret the results
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically processes ergonomic risk data from multiple tasks and generates cumulative risk assessments without requiring user interpretation. It self-calculates total time durations at each risk level and determines overall cumulative ergonomic risk, eliminating the need for users to possess specialized ergonomics knowledge for result interpretation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that transforms raw ergonomic assessment data from individual tasks into interpreted cumulative risk results. This intermediary system handles the complex calculations and interpretations automatically, bridging the gap between raw data and actionable insights without requiring user expertise.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional ergonomic tools are used, then simple assessments can be performed, but they lack comprehensive evaluation of risks across various body parts
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the ergonomic assessment by body part, evaluating each joint (shoulder, elbow, wrist, etc.) separately for each task. It then accumulates the risk exposure for each body part across multiple tasks, providing detailed comprehensive evaluation while maintaining systematic simplicity through structured segmentation of the assessment process.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments assess cumulative ergonomic risk. An embodiment includes receiving risk data where the risk data may include, for each task of a plurality of tasks performed by an operator, an indication of an ergonomic risk level, of a plurality of ergonomic risk levels, for the operator performing the task. Such an embodiment continues by restructuring the risk data received to determine, across the plurality of tasks, a total time duration for each joint of a plurality of joints of the operator, at each risk level. Thereafter, the embodiment determines the cumulative ergonomic risk based on the total time duration for each joint at each risk level.