Effectiveness of Ergonomic Evaluations of Computer Workstations

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Effectiveness of Ergonomic Evaluations of
Computer Workstations

• Carol A. Giles, MPH, CIH
• ESH-IH Safety
• Argonne National Laboratory
• Argonne, IL 60439
• cgiles_at_anl.gov

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Overview

• Goals
• Computer Workstation Conditions
• Questionnaire Results

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Goals

• Effectiveness
• Satisfaction
• Needs Assessment/Prioritization
• Cost Estimate
• Justification of Program

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Description of Conditions

• Most employees use computers
• Work stations not designed for this
• Increased use of mouse
• Variety of equipment, furniture, interest
• Optional Computer User Ergo course

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How Are Evaluations Requested?

• Referrals from Medical Dept.
• Direct call to ESH-IHS
• Call to/from their division safety rep.

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Nature of the Evaluations

• Most complained of pain
• Over 100 evaluations per year
• Increasing s over 7 years
• Photographs..

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Survey History

• Initial study at ANL by summer intern 97-98
• Intern surveyed 50, found 23 w/problems
• Incentive for formal study

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Survey Procedure

• Survey 2000
• Test group of 10
• Questionnaire refined
• Programming

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Survey Procedure

• Web-based survey HTML
• E-mail notices to previous 3 yrs customers,
  batches
• Data returned categorized via web site

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Survey Procedure

• Reminder sent to non-respondents
• Several returns by mail (recovery mechanism)
• Several returned after deadline

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Survey Data

• Addressees 238
• Duplicates 13
• Total 225 individual names
• Respondents 135
• Survey Response rate 60

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1a. Did you follow the ergonomic recommendations
provided (either verbally or in a written
report)?
Total answers 135 Yes answers 134 (99)
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1b. Who provided the recommendations to you?
(Check all that apply)
98.5
20.0
3.7
Total answers 135
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2. If you implemented the ergonomic
recommendations, did the recommendations help you
and how much?
Total answers 135
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3. If the recommendations were to purchase or
have something moved, did you feel your division
supported these recommendations?
Total answers 135
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4a. What were the recommendations? 4b. What
changes were actually made? (Check all that
apply)
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4a. What were the recommendations? 4b. What
changes were actually made? (Check all that
apply) (Cont)
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4c. Can you estimate the cost of the changes
made?
Total Costs 25,910
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5. What tasks or work do you do? (Check all that
apply)
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6. What is your average total exposure to
computer work in hours per day (at work and
home)?
Total answers 135
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7. How many hours per week on average, including
overtime, do you spend on all work-related tasks
(at work and home)?
Total answers 135
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8. What body parts were affected? (Check all
that apply)
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9. What were your symptoms? (Check all that
apply)
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10. What seemed to be the nature(s) of the
problem(s)? (Check all that apply)
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11. How long did you have the earliest symptoms
prior to the evaluation?
Total answers 135
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12.Were you satisfied with your ergonomic
consultation?
Total answers 135
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13. Do you need to schedule a follow-up visit?
Total answers 135
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Conclusions

• Effectiveness 86-90
• Satisfaction 96-98
• Costs of corrections 26,000/3 yrs 8,667/yr
  64/respondent

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Conclusions--continued

• Ergonomic evaluations are justified
• Prevention would likely yield more benefits with
  less cost

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Acknowledgements

• Eve Yates Lisa Reyes, ESH, Wm.
  Nowicki--Computer Support
• Glarycelis Pabon-Jimenez, former intern
• Lori Meisinger, IPD Graphic Arts
• Survey participants--ANL employees
• Nsima Obot
• ESH Division

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Computer Resources

• Software--
• Allaire Homesite for HTML
• Visual Basic 6
• IIS Webserver on NT machine
• MS Access with a recovery mechanism