The Productivity Consequences of Two Ergonomic Interventions

Pre- and post-intervention data on health outcomes, absenteeism, and productivity from a longitudinal, quasi-experimental design field study of office workers was used to evaluate the economic consequences of two ergonomic interventions. Researchers assigned individuals in the study to three groups: a group that received an ergonomically designed chair and office ergonomics training; a group that received office ergonomics training only; and a control group. The results show that while training alone has neither a statistically significant effect on health nor productivity, the chair-with-training intervention substantially reduced pain and improved productivity. Neither intervention affected sick leave hours.ergonomics, chair, pain, DeRango, Upjohn

The Productivity Consequences of Two Ergonomic Interventions

Pre- and post-intervention data on health outcomes, absenteeism, and productivity from a longitudinal, quasi-experimental design field study of office workers was used to evaluate the economic consequences of two ergonomic interventions. Researchers assigned individuals in the study to three groups: a group that received an ergonomically designed chair and office ergonomics training; a group that received office ergonomics training only; and a control group. The results show that while training alone has neither a statistically significant effect on health nor productivity, the chair-with-training intervention substantially reduced pain and improved productivity. Neither intervention affected sick leave hours

THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF TWO OFFICE ERGONOMIC INTERVENTIONS

In a quasi-experimental field study, workers who received a highly adjustable ergonomic chair and office ergonomics training were compared with workers who only received office ergonomics training or a control group. Workers completed daily health diaries at 2 and 1 month pre-intervention and 2, 6 and 12 months postintervention. Workers who received a highly adjustable chair and office ergonomics training had lower musculoskeletal symptom scores at the beginning of the day and no symptom growth over the workday compared to either workers who only received the training or the control group. These results support the significance of highly adjustable chairs and office ergonomics training in preventing musculoskeletal symptoms among office workers

The Effect of Two Office Ergonomics Field Interventions and Their Replication on Visual Symptoms

Upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders in the workplace continue to be a significant public health burden (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2001). These outcomes, as they relate to computer use, are important as greater than 50% of employed adults in the United States use a computer at work (U.S. Census Bureau, 2003). Visual symptoms are also known to often coexist with upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms with computer workers. This study examines the effect of two office ergonomic interventions, a highly adjustable chair and an office ergonomics training, on the reduction of specific visual symptoms. Additionally, findings from a replicated study site are compared with those of the original study. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to estimate the effect. In comparing the original and replication worksites we find specific visual symptom reductions occurred for the group receiving both the chair with training at the original and replicated worksite. However, the group receiving only the office ergonomics training experienced individual visual symptom reductions at the replication worksite but not the original worksite. There were differences in the specific visual symptoms affected by the office ergonomics interventions when comparing worksites. </jats:p

Effect of Office Ergonomics Intervention on Reducing Musculoskeletal Symptoms

Study Design. Office workers invited and agreeing to participate were assigned to one of three study groups: a group receiving a highly adjustable chair with office ergonomics training, a training-only group, and a control group receiving the training at the end of the study. Objective. To examine the effect of office ergonomics intervention in reducing musculoskeletal symptom growth over the workday and, secondarily, pain levels throughout the day. Materials and Methods. Data collection occurred 2 months and 1 month before the intervention and 2, 6, and 12 months postintervention. During each round, a short daily symptom survey was completed at the beginning, middle, and end of the workday for 5 days during a workweek to measure total bodily pain growth over the workday. Multilevel statistical models were used to test hypotheses. Results. The chair-with-training intervention lowered symptom growth over the workday (P � 0.012) after 12 months of follow-up. No evidence suggested that training alone lowered symptom growth over the workday (P � 0.461); however, average pain levels in both intervention groups were reduced over the workday. Conclusion. Workers who received a highly adjustable chair and office ergonomics training had reduced symptom growth over the workday. The lack of a training-only group effect supports implementing training in conjunction with highly adjustable office furniture and equipment to reduce symptom growth. The ability to reduce symptom growth has implications for understanding how to prevent musculoskeletal injuries in knowledge workers. [Key words: office ergonomics intervention, musculoskeletal symptom growth] Spine 2003;28:2706–271