Office Ergonomics Intervention Study Panel

Abstract

Ergonomic issues in the office environment affect both workplace health and productivity outcomes. Currently the office ergonomics intervention literature is underrepresented in research studies with rigorous study designs and analytical methods. Furthermore, there exist no published replication intervention studies. Panel members are part of a multidisciplinary inter-institutional research group that conducted the same office ergonomics intervention study at two different worksites (one public and one private sector). Office workers agreeing to participate were assigned to one of two interventions - a highly adjustable chair coupled with an office ergonomics training (chair-with-training group) or the office ergonomics training alone (training-only group) - or a control group receiving the training at the end. During this discussion panel the effects of the interventions on ergonomics knowledge and computing behaviors, biomechanical changes, individual components of musculoskeletal and visual symptoms and productivity will be presented.