Wyniki wyszukiwania - BazTech

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Will Musculoskeletal, Visual and Psychosocial Stress Change for Visual Display Unit (VDU) Operators When Moving From a Single-Occupancy Office to an Office Landscape?

Helland M., Horgen G., Kvikstad T. M., Garthus T., Aaras A.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2008

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Vol. 14, No. 3

259--274

EN

This study investigated the effect of moving from single-occupancy offices to a landscape environment. Thirty-two visual display unit (VDU) operators reported no significant change in visual discomfort. Lighting conditions and glare reported subjectively showed no significant correlation with visual discomfort. Experience of pain was found to reduce subjectively rated work capacity during VDU tasks. The correlation between visual discomfort and reduced work capacity for single-occupancy offices was rs = .88 (p = .000) and for office landscape rs = .82 (p = .000). Eye blink rate during habitual VDU work was recorded for 12 operators randomly selected from the 32 participants in the office landscape. A marked drop in eye blink rate during VDU work was found compared to eye blink rate during easy conversation. There were no significant changes in pain intensity in the neck, shoulder, forearm, wrist/hand, back or headache (.24 ≤ p ≤ .67). Pain levels in different body areas were significantly correlated with reduced work capacity, .77 < rs < .99 (p = .000).

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The Effect of an Ergonomic Intervention on Musculoskeletal, Psychosocial and Visual Strain of VDT Entry Work: Organization and Methodology of the International Study

Dainoff M. J., Aaras A., Horgen G., Konarska M., Larsen S., Thoresen M., Cohen B. G. F.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2005

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Vol. 11, No. 1

9--23

EN

This special issue of the International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics (JOSE) reports the results from an extensive multinational and multidisciplinary collaborative investigation of the impacts on visual display terminal (VDT) work of musculoskeletal, visual, ergonomic, and psychosocial factors. For brevity, this effort has been referred to as the MEPS project musculoskeletal-eyestrain-psychosocial-stress). This paper lays out the basic methodological structure of the study. The study was conducted in 4 countries utilizing VDT data entry workers as the primary subject population. A battery of objective and subject assessment measures, including muscle load, visual function, physical and visual strain, postural, ergonomic and psychosocial factors, were assessed at 3 different points in time. A pre-test was given prior to an ergonomic intervention. Two posttests were given 1 month and 1 year after the ergonomic intervention.

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The Effect of an Ergonomic Intervention on Musculoskeletal, Psychosocial and Visual Strain of VDT Data Entry Work: The Polish Part of the International Study

Konarska M., Wolska A., Widerszal-Bazyl M., Bugajska J., Roman-Liu D., Aaras A.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2005

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Vol. 11, No. 1

65--76

EN

A group of routine data entry operators (female) was included in the Polish MEPS (musculoskeletal-eyestrain-psychosocial-stress) study. Before the intervention, ergonomic assessment revealed improper working conditions such as inadequate lighting, uncomfortable chairs, and lack of forearm and wrist support while medical examination revealed that trapezius muscle load along with upper arm, head and back angles were higher than advisable. Subjects complained about neck and shoulder pain, visual problems, and psychosocial conditions. The ergonomic intervention included installation of new luminaires and Venetian blinds, new chairs, repair of ventilators, and optometric corrections. The results after the intervention showed mainly improvement in chair comfort, lighting conditions, visual strain, and sitting posture. However, financial limitations did not allow satisfactory completion of the intervention leading to a mixed interpretation of the results.

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The Effect of an Ergonomic Intervention on Musculoskeletal, Psychosocial and Visual Strain of VDT Data Entry Work: The Norwegian Part of the International Study

Aaras A., Horgen G., Ro O., Loken E., Mathiasen G., Bjorset H. H., Larsen S., Thoresen M.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2005

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Vol. 11, No. 1

25--47

EN

The Norwegian MEPS (musculoskeletal-eyestrain-psychosocial-stress) study included 3 groups: data entry, data dialogue (female) and data dialogue (male). Before intervention, the data entry group reported significantly more symptoms and signs of musculoskeletal illness and had longer periods in front of the video display terminal (VDT) without a break. The ergonomic intervention consisted mainly of ergonomic information and training. After intervention, the data dialogue female group reported a significant reduction in shoulder pain in parallel with a reduction in trapezius load. Increasing the understanding in how to adjust the work stand and chair may have been contributing factors to reducing the pain level. There was a significant reduction in eye problems in all groups; the greatest reduction in eye symptoms was seen in the groups who had new optometric corrections.

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Strategies of International Cooperation in an International Project: Advantages and Pitfalls

Dainoff M. J., Aaras A., Ro O., Cohen B. G. F.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2005

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Vol. 11, No. 1

3--8

EN

The MEPS (musculoskeletal—eyestrain—psychosocial—stress) study involved an extensive degree of multidisciplinary and multicultural cooperation. The objective was to examine the effects of multiple ergonomic interventions on visual, musculoskeletal, postural, and psychosocial outcomes amongst operators of visual display terminals (VDTs). The inherent complexity of a comprehensive ergonomic investigation requires participation of researchers from a variety of disciplines, as well as comparisons among populations with different geographical and cultural backgrounds. The design and execution of the resulting research protocol presents a number of challenges. This paper discusses the advantages and pitfalls associated with multidisciplinary multinational cooperation. Advantages include the necessity for development of a common language and perspective providing a basis for future collaboration. Pitfalls include logistic and coordination difficulties associated with conducting standardized procedures in different locations, as well as the inherent potential for professional conflict. It is argued that such pitfalls ought to be understood and integrated into the project planning process.

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A Cross-Country Comparison of Shortand Long-Term Effects of an Ergonomic Intervention on Musculoskeletal Discomfort, Eyestrain and Psychosocial Stress in VDT Operators: Selected Aspects of the International Project

Horgen G., Aaras A., Dainoff M. J., Konarska M., Thoresen M., Cohen B. G. F.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2005

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Vol. 11, No. 1

77--92

EN

Three groups of data entry female visual display terminal (VDT) workers from Norway (n = 30), Poland (n =33) and the USA (n = 29) were compared. Before intervention, the Norwegian group reported more neck pain compared with the Polish group. The Polish group reported less shoulder pain than both the U.S. and the Norwegian groups. The clinical examination documented fewer symptoms and signs of musculoskeletal illness among the Polish participants compared with the Norwegian and the U.S. groups. After intervention, the Norwegian group reported a reduction in neck pain while the U.S. group reported a reduction in shoulder pain. The Polish group reported an increase in neck, shoulder and forearm pain at follow-up compared to after intervention. The Polish group recorded higher flexion of the upper arm at follow-up parallel with an increase of pain in the upper part of the body. Visual discomfort showed variable results in the 3 countries.

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Company Strategies and Program for Implementing Ergonomics

Aaras A.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2001

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Vol. 7, No. 4

409--420

EN

Three periods of work environmental activity in the company will be presented: (a) A period without a work environmental organization and an environmental budget, covered approximately 1 year; (b) A period when an environmental organization with a separate work environmental budget was established. This period covered 15 years; (c) A period when the company was divided in 3 companies without a separate work environmental budget, but still an environmental organization, covering the last 12 years.