Posture Risk Assessment of Mixer Workers in Disc-Pad Plant Using RULA and REBA Methods

Authors

  • Nina Aini Mahbubah Universitas Muhammadiyah Gresik
  • Muhammad Taufiqul Ihsan Universitas Muhammadiyah Gresik

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35891/338y6p36

Keywords:

RULA, REBA, Ergonomics, Risk, Musculoskeletal Disorders

Abstract

An extreme working posture can lead to musculoskeletal disorders, conditions characterized by spinal anomalies. The operators at an upstream automotive manufacturer are prone to fatigue due to intense workloads. This study aims to evaluate the risk of work posture. Ergonomic risk assessment based on the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) is used as a research method. The study's population comprises three operators. The research stages began with a walk-through survey to identify work activities, followed by photographs of work postures. The study's findings showed that the highest RULA and REBA scores indicate a need for improvement in work methods. The analysis reveals that RULA is more exposed to upper-limb and wrist postures, while REBA sufficiently captures the risk associated with trunk flexion and leg loading. This approach provides a comprehensive risk shape for repetitive tasks, which is often overlooked in single-method studies. The research results also show that implementing ergonomic risk assessment using the RULA and REBA approaches can serve as input for a firm's management to improve work conditions.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

  • Muhammad Taufiqul Ihsan, Universitas Muhammadiyah Gresik

    Universitas Muhammadiyah Gresik

References

Aliaga, Y., & Beatriz Quispe. (2024). Ergonomic Risk Factors in industries: a systematic review 2018 – 2023. 22nd LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education, and Technology, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.18687/LACCEI2024.1.1.1035

Aliaga, Y., & Quispe, B. (2024). Ergonomic Risk Factors in industries: a systematic review 2018-2023. Proceedings of the LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education and Technology, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.18687/LACCEI2024.1.1.1035 Ergonomic

Aslan, I., Hamitoglu, F., Acar, M., & Acar, H. (2025). Risk Assessment of Ergonomic Factors in a Textile Firm by RULA, REBA and Fine Kinney Methods. Ergonomics International Journal, 9(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.23880/eoij-16000340

Ayik Pusakanongwati, Achmad Misbah, & Muhammad Hermansyah. (2022). Design of Soybean Dregs Separator Tool for Tempe Production in MSMEs Pasuruan Regency Using Pulse Method and Rula Method. JKIE (Journal Knowledge Industrial Engineering), 9(3), 180–191. https://doi.org/10.35891/jkie.v9i3.3505

Bhandare, R. V., Thakur, M. K., Sonawane, G. P., Rayjade, G. R., & Bhagure, A. D. (2025). Human-centered Design and Musculoskeletal Risk Evaluation for All-terrain Hybrid Electric Vehicle: A RULA and REBA Approach. Evergreen, 12(1), 516–525. https://doi.org/10.5109/7342471

Celal Gungor, & Mustafa Fikret Oguz. (2024). Manual material handling risk assessment in furniture industry: REBA method. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 21(3), 1760–1765. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.3.0934

Dhonny, M. A., & Mahbubah, N. A. (2025). Evaluasi Risiko Cedera Musculosceletal Berbasis Metode Rula Dan Reba Pada Operator Bagian Pengiriman Barang Di Pt Dcf. Sigma Teknika, 8(2), 237–249. https://doi.org/10.33373/sigmateknika.v8i2.8497

Fauza Dwi Prirasetyo, A., & Mahbubah, N. (2021). Analisis Postur Pekerja Pada Proses Produksi Tahu Berdasarkan Metode Rapid Entire Body Assessment Di CV Lahan Faedah. Jurnal Teknologi, 14(1), 72–82. https://doi.org/10.34151/jurtek.v14i1.3548

Ferdiansyah, D. A., & Mahbubah, N. A. (2022). Evaluasi Postur Kerja Operator Packing Berbasis Pendekatan Rapid Entire Body Assesment Di Ud. Xeviproduction. Sigma Teknika, 5(1), 047–056. https://doi.org/10.33373/sigmateknika.v5i1.4208

Hedge, A. (1993). RULA Employee Assessment Worksheet. https://ergo-plus.com/wp-content/uploads/RULA.pdf

Hedge, A. (2008). REBA Employee Assessment Worksheet. https://ergo-plus.com/wp-content/uploads/REBA.pdf

Hignett, S., M. (2000). REBA Employee Assessment Worksheet. In Applied ergonomics (Vol. 31, Issue 816).

Hignett, S., & McAtamney, L. (2000). Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). Applied Ergonomics, 31, 201–205. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-6870(99)00039-3

Hita-Gutiérrez, M., Gómez-Galán, M., Díaz-Pérez, M., & Callejón-Ferre, Á.-J. (2020). An Overview of REBA Method Applications in the World. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 1–22. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082635

Imran Aslan, Hamitoğlu F, Acar MN, & Acar HA. (2025). Risk Assessment of Ergonomic Factors in a Textile Firm by RULA, REBA and Fine Kinney Methods. Ergonomics International Journal, 9(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.23880/eoij-16000340

Jamshidian, A., Shahjavan, Y., Jelokhani, A. N., Hosseini, S. N., & Arjmand, N. (2024). Musculoskeletal Disorders Risk Assessment Using Various Biomechanical and Ergonomics-Based Tools in an Automobile Fuel Tank Installation Workstation. 2024 31st National and 9th International Iranian Conference on Biomedical Engineering, ICBME 2024, 77–84. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICBME64381.2024.10895481

McAtamney, L., & Nigel Corlett, E. (1993). RULA: a survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders. Applied Ergonomics, 24(2), 91–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-6870(93)90080-S

Nur ’ainiyah, Y., Said, S., Dahda, & Jufriyanto, M. (2022). Analisis Terjadinya Risiko Musculoskeletal Disorders Karyawan Bagian Finishing Menggunakan Metode Reba (Studi Kasus : UD Arryna Raya). Jurnal Sains, Teknologi Dan Industri, 19(2), 373–382. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.24014/sitekin.v19i2.17912

Prasetyo, N. R. W., Dwiastuti, A., Nurdiansyah, R., Muid, A., Alhafidh, M. N., Nida, R. S., & Fitri, Z. A. (2026). ERGONOMIC RISK LEVEL ANALYSIS USING NORDIC BODY MAP (NBM), RULA, AND REBA METHODS ON MURYA 2 COLLECTION TAILORS. Multidsciplinary Output Research For Actual International Issue (MORFAI Journal), 6(4), 5955–5962. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20933631

Purwanto, P., Widyaingrum, D., Hakim, M. N., & Qulub, M. T. (2026). Proposed Integraed Assesment of RULA, REBA, and OWAS For Ergonomic Risk Evaluation and Workstation Improvement. Andalasian International Journal of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology, 06(02), 182–191. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.25077/aijaset.v6i2.337

Rahman, M. N. A., Yek, L. Z., Haw, H. F., Masood, I., Abdullah, H., Hassan, M. F., Haq, R. H. A., Arifin, A. M. T., Osman, S. A., Taib, I., & Pratiwi, I. (2025). Relationship between Improper Working Posture among Maintenance Workers using Different Assessment Methods. Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology, 49(2), 15–25. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.37934/araset.49.2.1525

Sirikasemsuk, K., Kittipanya-Ngam, P., Luanwiset, D., & Leerojanaprapa, K. (2024). Work posture risk comparison of RULA and REBA based on measures of assessment-score variability: A case study of the metal coating industry in Thailand. International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies, 7(3), 926–935. https://doi.org/10.53894/ijirss.v7i3.2978

Sudiarto, A. D., Khofiyah, N. A., & Feriaty, S. R. (2025). Design of Work Aid Tools To Improve Man Power Work Posture Using Rula Method (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) Pt.Xyz. JKIE (Journal Knowledge Industrial Engineering), 12(1), 53–69. https://doi.org/10.35891/jkie.v12i1.6043

Varghese, A., Panicker, V. V., & George, J. (2025). Posture Assessment of Rubber Tappers: A Comparative Analysis of OWAS, REBA, RULA, and PERA Methods. Medicina Del Lavoro, 116(3). https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v116i3.15875

Zhu, J., Li, Y., Lewicke, J., & Li, X. (2026). Improvements for adjustment factors of REBA and RULA based on Muscle Activation Analysis of body segmental movement. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 114, 14. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2026.103944

Downloads

Published

2026-08-31

How to Cite

Posture Risk Assessment of Mixer Workers in Disc-Pad Plant Using RULA and REBA Methods. (2026). JKIE (Journal Knowledge Industrial Engineering), 13(2), 191-207. https://doi.org/10.35891/338y6p36