Ergonomic Skills Training: Discussion of Methods Used to Improve Skill and Comfort Levels of Workers Using Video Display Terminals

Abstract

Ergonomic Skills Training is the new way of enabling workers to take responsibility for their own comfort and productivity in VDT environments. After receiving Ergonomic Skills Training, VDT users have demonstrated productivity increases, and error decreases, in a variety of applications. In addition, they have reported dramatic improvement in their health/comfort levels. The training involves the following:

Short-term Memory Skills in both visual and auditory perception which serve to reduce keying and proofing errors.

Physical exercises to be performed at the workstation throughout the day to prevent and/or reduce fatigue, eyestrain, muscular pain.

Individual workstation adjustments to enable workers to adapt basic ergonomic principles to existing work environments and thus enhance work flow and personal comfort.

This paper is a description of the training methods used and the results reported by trainers and clients.