Högskolan i Skövde

Industry 5.0 places worker’s wellbeing at the center of the production process, prioritizing healthy and safety job conditions. Requirements to achieve occupational wellbeing are reducing risks for Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) and improving industry workstations. The traditional ergonomics risk assessments are based on human observational evaluation and the results are influenced by observers’ competence. Nowadays, advanced technologies such as motion capture systems are implemented to objectively monitor an operator’s movements over time. By providing real-time, data-driven insights into human movement and posture, systems offer the potential to reduce workplace injuries, enhance productivity, and promote long-term worker health. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate and compare three different approaches for assessing the quantitative biomechanical risk of an industrial task using the RULA method: the observational method, a wearable inertial measurement system, and a 4D stereophotogrammetry. The experiment involves one participant (female, 30 years old) performing a “pick-and-place” worker’s task in a controlled laboratory environment. RULA scores vary across the three approaches, with discrepancies primarily due to differences in how each system captures and measures joint angles. While this preliminary study provides valuable initial insights, the limitation of involving a single participant must be critically acknowledged. Future research will aim to include a larger sample size and conduct statistical analyses. The identification of benefits and limitations of each approach enables researchers, ergonomists, and industry stakeholders to critically select and integrate technology to support the worker’s safety, optimizing human wellbeing and overall system performance.