Knowella

Sustained Posture Assessment

Assesses tasks held in one position for long periods, such as inspection, monitoring or fine assembly. Run where workers report fatigue or stiffness. Carried out by a trained assessor. Static loading is often missed because nothing appears to be happening.

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Completed by
Carried out by a trained assessor
Raised
When the task, area or population being assessed is new or

Summary

In short

  • A sustained posture assessment is an assessment used in KnowErgo that assesses tasks held in one position for long periods, such as inspection, monitoring or fine assembly. It is built against ISO 11226 and forms part of the Ergonomics and MSD Prevention programme.
  • Run where workers report fatigue or stiffness. Carried out by a trained assessor.
  • The template holds 52 fields across 6 sections.
  • Scoring is posture score, hold duration, where high is bad.
  • ISO 11226 is static working postures. Ergonomic limits for how long a posture can be held. Underpins the postural analysis methods.
  • It connects to the rest of the library: links Job, Worker.

What it is

What it is

What is a sustained posture assessment?

A sustained posture assessment is an assessment used in KnowErgo that assesses tasks held in one position for long periods, such as inspection, monitoring or fine assembly. It is built against ISO 11226 and forms part of the Ergonomics and MSD Prevention programme.

When is a sustained posture assessment completed?

A sustained posture assessment is completed when the task, area or population being assessed is new or has materially changed. Run where workers report fatigue or stiffness.

When to use it

When to use it, and when not to

This assessment is one step in a larger programme. Using it for work that belongs to a neighbouring template produces records that are hard to report on later.

Use it for

  • The event or activity this assessment covers has occurred, or is about to
  • A new record is needed; each one gets its own ID in the form ERG-2026-000
  • You are running the Ergonomics and MSD Prevention programme and this is one of its steps
  • A linked record needs this one to exist: links job, worker

Not for

  • Task Ergonomic Assessment, which assesses a work task using video, applying the methods you configure such as RULA, REBA or WISHA.
  • Lifting Task Assessment, which assesses a lifting task from video, running the NIOSH lifting equation alongside a whole body posture method.
  • Push and Pull Assessment, which assesses pushing, pulling and carrying tasks from video, using Snook tables alongside a posture method.
  • Anything outside KnowErgo, which belongs in the workspace that owns that process

Standards

What it is built against

ISO 11226Static working postures

Ergonomic limits for how long a posture can be held. Underpins the postural analysis methods.

ISOInternational Organization for Standardization

A voluntary international standard. Widely adopted, often required by customers, and certifiable where a management system standard.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the sustained posture assessment template based on?+

It is built against ISO 11226. ISO 11226 is static working postures. Ergonomic limits for how long a posture can be held. Underpins the postural analysis methods. ISO is international Organization for Standardization. A voluntary international standard. Widely adopted, often required by customers, and certifiable where a management system standard.

What sections does the sustained posture assessment contain?+

There are 6 sections: header, posture held, standing work, work height and reach, scored method, outcome. Together they hold 52 fields, 35 of which are required.

How often is a sustained posture assessment raised?+

A new record is raised when the task, area or population being assessed is new or has materially changed. Each one is given an ID in the form ERG-2026-000, so it can be traced and referenced from other records.

Which programme does the sustained posture assessment belong to?+

It is part of Ergonomics and MSD Prevention. Assessed tasks with before and after scores, and a business case that gets equipment approved.

How is a sustained posture assessment scored?+

Scoring is posture score, hold duration. High is bad. Scores exist to make the form tell you something, not to produce a percentage for its own sake.

Can the sustained posture assessment template be changed?+

Yes. Every field, option, score and conditional rule is editable, and the links to other templates come with it. Most teams install it as it is, run it for a cycle, then adjust.

The agents

What the agents do with it

The form is the easy part. Keeping it current, routing it to the right owner and holding the evidence together is the work that actually slips.

KnowErgo

Holds the sustained posture assessment library against your registers, routes each record to its owner, and keeps the evidence trail together.

Ella

Coordinates the crew, rolls completion and exceptions into one view, and holds every write for your approval before it touches a record.

This template lives in KnowErgoergonomics. Task assessment, video posture analysis, rotation and workstation redesign.

Meet KnowErgo

Sources

Sources

  • ISO 11226 — Static working postures
  • ISO — International Organization for Standardization

KnowErgo

Also in Task Assessments

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Assessment

Task Ergonomic Assessment

Assesses a work task using video, applying the methods you configure such as RULA, REBA or WISHA. Run when a task is new, changed or causing discomfort. Carried out by a trained assessor. Reports each method score and takes the worst band as the task risk.

Assessment

Lifting Task Assessment

Assesses a lifting task from video, running the NIOSH lifting equation alongside a whole body posture method. Run for any task involving repeated or heavy lifting. Carried out by a trained assessor. Produces a lifting index and a recommended weight limit.

Assessment

Push and Pull Assessment

Assesses pushing, pulling and carrying tasks from video, using Snook tables alongside a posture method. Run for cart, tote and pallet jack movement. Carried out by a trained assessor. Reports the percentage of the working population able to perform the task safely.

Assessment

Repetitive Task Assessment

Assesses highly repetitive work from video, focusing on upper limb loading and cycle time. Run for assembly, packing and inspection roles. Carried out by a trained assessor. Combines a RULA score with actual cycle counts.

Assessment

Manual Handling Assessment

A general manual handling assessment covering load, posture, frequency and environment. Run where handling is a significant part of the job. Carried out by a trained assessor. Suits mixed handling tasks that no single method covers well.

Assessment

Maintenance Task Assessment

Assesses the awkward postures maintenance work often demands, including overhead, kneeling and confined access. Run for recurring maintenance tasks. Carried out by a trained assessor with the technician. Maintenance ergonomics is routinely overlooked because the tasks are infrequent.

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