Effects of environmental and task risk factors on workers’ perceived sense of postural sway and instability

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate workers’ ability to detect changes in postural balance using a short questionnaire – the perceived sense of postural sway and instability (PSPSI) scale. Ratings of perceived sense of postural sway and instability for four simulated tasks were obtained from fifty-two healthy industrial workers and compared with objective measurements determined by a strain gauge type force platform. The simulated tasks were performed under various experimental conditions that may influence postural stability. It was found that subjects were able to perceive the changes in postural sway and instability due to the modification in peripheral vision, environmental lighting, workload, and surface firmness, as reflected by their PSPSI ratings. Results from this study indicate that the PSPSI scale is a promising tool, which provides a simple and valid method to evaluate the potential for loss of balance in the workplace.