Musculoskeletal　disorders　(MSDs)　are　associated　with　sitting　postures.　The　assessment　and　prevention　of　risk　factors　for　workplace　exposure　are　indispensable　aspects　of　reducing　the　occurrence　of　MSDs.　This　paper　proposes　an　ergonomic　assessment　method　of　risk　factors　for　MSDs　associated　with　sitting　postures　in　the　actual　working　conditions.　A　Kinect　sensor　with　the　RULA　method　was　primarily　used　to　collect　the　data　and　evaluate　the　relevant　postures.　The　results　obtained　were　compared　with　the　evaluation　results　by　a　human　expert.　Additionally,　we　veri¯ed　the　capability　and　e®ectiveness　of　this　method.　A　program　system　for　human　joint　recognition　and　acquisition　was　implemented.　The　results　indicated　that　the　Kinect　joint　data　is　generally　accurate　and　can　adequately　complete　the　RULA　evaluation　table.　The　results　from　the　front　and　right-hand　side　obtained　by　the　Kinect　were　consistent　with　the　results　of　the　expert　evaluation,　and　no　signi¯cant　di®erence　was　observed　between　them　(p　＞　0:05).　However,　when　the　participants　faced　the　Kinect,　the　sensor　performed　better,　and　the　evaluation　result　was　more　accurate.　A　high　consistency　was　observed　between　the　evaluation　results　obtained　from　the　front　and　the　expert　(proportion　agreement　index　¼　0:65,　Cohen＇s　kappa　¼　0:77).　Only　a　slight　consistency　was　observed　between　the　evaluation　results　obtained　from　the　right-hand　side　and　the　expert　(proportion　agreement　index　¼　0:41,　Cohen＇s　kappa　¼　0:08).　This　research　created　a　new　ergonomic　method　for　the　risk　assessment　of　MSDs　associated　with　sitting　postures.　The　combination　of　theory　and　practice　is　crucial　in　the　risk　assessment　of　sitting　postures　in　workplaces.　©　World　Scientific　Publishing　Company.