Evaluating the Impact of an Office Ergonomics Program

Abstract

Workers in a New York City department participated in an office ergonomics training program and voluntarily completed a survey of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms (WRMSs). Results of the survey were used to guide ergonomic interventions and sixty days later employees voluntarily completed a follow-up WRMS survey. Complete data for full-time employees who had completed both surveys was analyzed (1,504 employees). Results showed significant reductions in the prevalence, frequency, severity and degree of debilitation with the ergonomic interventions for a number of WRMSs. Results also showed the effects of chair design characteristics on certain upper body WRMSs. Implications of this work are discussed.

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