Effectiveness of Ergonomic Evaluations of Computer Workstations Carol A. Giles, MPH, CIH ESH-IH & Safety Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, IL

Overview Goals Computer Workstation Conditions Questionnaire & Results

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

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

How Are Evaluations Requested? Referrals from Medical Dept. Direct call to ESH-IHS Call to/from their division safety rep.

Nature of the Evaluations Most complained of pain Over 100 evaluations per year Increasing #’s over 7 years Photographs…..

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

Survey Procedure Survey 2000 –Test group of 10 –Questionnaire refined Programming

Survey Procedure Web-based survey HTML notices to previous 3 yrs’ customers, batches Data returned & categorized via web site

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

Survey Data Addressees:238 Duplicates: 13 Total: 225 individual names Respondents:135 Survey Response rate = 60%

1a. Did you follow the ergonomic recommendations provided (either verbally or in a written report)? Total answers: 135 Yes answers = 134 (99%)

1b. Who provided the recommendations to you? (Check all that apply) Total answers: % 20.0% 3.7%

2.If you implemented the ergonomic recommendations, did the recommendations help you and how much? Total answers: 135

3.If the recommendations were to purchase or have something moved, did you feel your division supported these recommendations? Total answers: 135

4a.What were the recommendations? 4b.What changes were actually made? (Check all that apply)

4a.What were the recommendations? 4b.What changes were actually made? (Check all that apply) (Cont)

4c. Can you estimate the cost of the changes made? Total Costs: $25,910

5.What tasks or work do you do? (Check all that apply)

6. What is your average total exposure to computer work in hours per day (at work and home)? Total answers: 135

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

8. What body parts were affected? (Check all that apply)

9.What were your symptoms? (Check all that apply)

10.What seemed to be the nature(s) of the problem(s)? (Check all that apply)

11.How long did you have the earliest symptoms prior to the evaluation? Total answers: 135

12.Were you satisfied with your ergonomic consultation? Total answers: 135

13.Do you need to schedule a follow-up visit? Total answers: 135

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

Conclusions--continued Ergonomic evaluations are justified Prevention would likely yield more benefits with less cost

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

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