TY - JOUR
T1 - Flexible workspace design and ergonomics training
T2 - Impacts on the psychosocial work environment, musculoskeletal health, and work effectiveness among knowledge workers
AU - Robertson, Michelle M.
AU - Huang, Yueng Hsiang
AU - O'Neill, Michael J.
AU - Schleifer, Lawrence M.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the following Liberty Mutual colleagues who served as reviewers for this paper: Ms. Angela Garabet, Ms. Peg Rothwell, and Dr. Mary Lesch. Also, we wish to acknowledge support of the Office Ergonomics Research Center (OERC).
PY - 2008/7
Y1 - 2008/7
N2 - A macroergonomics intervention consisting of flexible workspace design and ergonomics training was conducted to examine the effects on psychosocial work environment, musculoskeletal health, and work effectiveness in a computer-based office setting. Knowledge workers were assigned to one of four conditions: flexible workspace (n=121), ergonomics training (n=92), flexible workspace+ergonomics training (n=31), and a no-intervention control (n=45). Outcome measures were collected 2 months prior to the intervention and 3 and 6 months post-intervention. Overall, the study results indicated positive, significant effects on the outcome variables for the two intervention groups compared to the control group, including work-related musculoskeletal discomfort, job control, environmental satisfaction, sense of community, ergonomic climate, communication and collaboration, and business process efficiency (time and costs). However, attrition of workers in the ergonomics training condition precluded an evaluation of the effects of this intervention. This study suggests that a macroergonomics intervention is effective among knowledge workers in office settings.
AB - A macroergonomics intervention consisting of flexible workspace design and ergonomics training was conducted to examine the effects on psychosocial work environment, musculoskeletal health, and work effectiveness in a computer-based office setting. Knowledge workers were assigned to one of four conditions: flexible workspace (n=121), ergonomics training (n=92), flexible workspace+ergonomics training (n=31), and a no-intervention control (n=45). Outcome measures were collected 2 months prior to the intervention and 3 and 6 months post-intervention. Overall, the study results indicated positive, significant effects on the outcome variables for the two intervention groups compared to the control group, including work-related musculoskeletal discomfort, job control, environmental satisfaction, sense of community, ergonomic climate, communication and collaboration, and business process efficiency (time and costs). However, attrition of workers in the ergonomics training condition precluded an evaluation of the effects of this intervention. This study suggests that a macroergonomics intervention is effective among knowledge workers in office settings.
KW - Business process efficiency
KW - Musculoskeletal discomfort
KW - Office ergonomics intervention
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U2 - 10.1016/j.apergo.2008.02.022
DO - 10.1016/j.apergo.2008.02.022
M3 - Article
C2 - 18462704
AN - SCOPUS:43049136843
SN - 0003-6870
VL - 39
SP - 482
EP - 494
JO - Applied Ergonomics
JF - Applied Ergonomics
IS - 4
ER -