Uncertainty in monetary cost estimates for assessing working postures using inclinometry, observation or self-report

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Ergonomics
• Workplace Safety

Background:

• Accurate measurement of working postures is crucial for assessing physical workloads.
• Traditional cost estimation methods may not fully capture the variability in data collection expenses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the cost uncertainties associated with different methods for collecting posture data: inclinometry, direct observation, and self-report.
• To provide guidance on selecting the most cost-effective posture measurement strategy.

Main Methods:

• A scenario analysis was employed to determine the best-case (lowest cost) and worst-case (highest cost) scenarios for each data collection method.
• Costs were calculated for measuring the postures of 28 workers across three shifts in a paper mill setting.

Main Results:

• Self-report presented the lowest costs (€3743 - €23368) and the least uncertainty.
• Observation incurred higher costs (€16506 - €89552) with substantial uncertainty.
• Inclinometry costs ranged from €7613 to €45896, indicating moderate uncertainty.

Conclusions:

• The significant uncertainty in cost estimates highlights the need to consider variability when choosing a posture measurement method.
• Under specific conditions, such as utilizing existing resources, observation could potentially be more cost-effective than inclinometry.
• Incorporating uncertainty assessments into cost estimations is recommended for informed decision-making in selecting posture monitoring techniques.