Abstract
As an ergonomic intervention follow-up, this study will be important as it shows that ergonomic assessments are substantial in producing prolonged health and wellness, increased knowledge of ergonomics, and workstation safety in order to further reduce risk for injury for computer workers. It also demonstrates OT’s ability to sustain ergonomic programs over a period of time to improve worker safety.
Primary Author and Speaker: Jessica Maxwell
Additional Authors and Speakers: Dana Howell, Renee Causey-Upton
Commitment from supervisors and employees is essential to modifying risk factors to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of computer workers (Niekerk, Louw, & Hillier, 2012). This study is a follow-up to a study first done in 2017. It found that implementation of an ergonomic program by an occupational therapist (OT) revealed a positive impact on computer workers; thus increasing their knowledge of ergonomics and workstation safety, and decreasing their risk for injury. The study also showed a decrease in the participants’ level of pain/discomfort during their 8-hour shifts. The purpose of this follow-up study was to determine if the improvements from the ergonomic intervention remained 18-months later, demonstrating continued improvement and positive effects for computer workers’: 1)knowledge related to ergonomics and healthy practices to prevent MSDs and 2)working conditions and workspace. Computer workers from one department who performed at least six hours of computer work within an eight-hour shift were eligible and were recruited via email. Participants who did not participate in the original study, those receiving workman’s compensation and/or any occupational or physical therapy services were excluded. This follow-up study utilized the same pre/post surveys and two standardized OSHA risk assessments used in the original study, which took place over a 4-week time frame. In the follow-up study, the OT provided ergonomic re-education, re-training in healthy practices, and recommendations as needed for participants with a decline in their original scores and/or those who exemplified new symptoms of pain/discomfort. The study was approved by an Institutional Review Board. A pre/post survey with a five-point Likert scale and one open-ended question was developed and piloted. Survey questions related to demographics, knowledge of ergonomics, and knowledge of preventing MSDs. Two standardized OSHA risk assessments were used: the W1 Basic Screening Tool (BST) was used to identify the risk of injury from extended computer use and the Visual Display Terminal (VDT) Workstation Checklist was used to re-identify working conditions. Data was analyzed using frequencies. Participants signed informed consent and completed pre-surveys. The original assessments from the 2017 study were compared to data found during the 2018 assessments. Based on the comparison of the individual scores, recommendations and workstation modifications were provided as needed. Participants were provided with re-education on ergonomics and healthy practices to prevent MSDs based on a decline in their original scores. After intervention, the participants completed the post-survey. The study used the same 13 participants from the original study. The W1 BST showed that all participants were at risk of MSDs from extended computer use involving repetitive motions and awkward postures of the neck, shoulder, hand, and arm. The data analysis for this study is ongoing. The expected significance of the study’s findings is to show that positive effects of the initial intervention are still in motion and revealing continued knowledge related to ergonomics and healthy practices to prevent MSDs (research question 1) and that the VDT Workstation Checklist will continue to reveal improvements in participant’s working conditions and workspace (research question 2) after an 18-month follow-up.
It is expected that the implementation of a short ergonomic intervention by an OT after a 18 month follow-up will continue to increase the computer workers’ knowledge of ergonomics, and improving their workstation; thereby reducing the risk for injury. The impact of this study is that OTs have a clear role in implementing ergonomic programs for computer workers as an effective way to improve their quality of life.
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Niekerk, S., Louw, Q. A., & Hillier, S. (2012). The effectiveness of a chair intervention in the workplace to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms: A systematic review. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 13, 145-152. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-13-145