Workstation Ergonomics John Hayes James Sheedy Sponsored by the American Optometric Association

Objectives Can a simple survey detect computer using employees with vision problems? Can we identify factors that are potentially amenable to remediation?

Approach Construct a model Include factors that might lead to vision problems Include problems that vision factors might cause Control for job-related social factors Test the model by surveying employees of a large institution

Structural Equation

Mail Out Questionnaire Sent to 1000 OSU employees in 29 Colleges and Offices with more than 75 employees. 4 mailings. Complete mailing, postcard follow-up, Second mailing to non-responders, postcard follow-up. 70.5% response rate Age range 21-69. 68% female Computer use: 6 hrs/day (2.3SD)

Simple Correlations with Life Quality & Multiple Regression Analysis

Simple Correlations with Physical Symptoms & Multiple Regression Analysis

Simple Correlations with Eye Symptoms & Multiple Regression Analysis

Prevalence of lighting problems 59% of respondents said there were bright overhead lights or bright windows in the field of vision while looking at the computer display. Of those, 56% said putting their hand over their eyes helped.

Ergonomic factors associated with physical and eye symptoms

Conclusion Eye symptoms were associated with life quality (Most of the variance was shared with job quality) Eye symptoms were strongly associated with physical symptoms. (Even after controlling for numerous factors) Ergonomics, job demand, and lighting were associated with eye symptoms.

Speculation/Recommendations for feeling better at the end of the day Use a comfortable chair that supports your lower back Wear glasses or contacts, if necessary, that allow you to see the computer monitor clearly Place the center of the monitor within 1-2 inches of eye level Move your computer away from an open window Turn down the lights or remove fluorescent tubes from the ceiling Wear a ball cap or visor if you can’t reduce the intensity of the lighting

Future Directions We would like to complete the cycle of this research with a randomized trial attempting to resolve some of the identified discomfort issues. Use the survey to identify employees Randomly assign them to either: An education/attention control A modification of their self-identified work station problems The primary focus will be on lighting

Thanks The American Optometric Association for sponsoring the project Sherry Hayes for stuffing, distributing, mailing reminders, collecting the surveys, stuffing again, distributing again, collecting again, sending more reminders, and entering the data