Documents visual display unit 86 results

Objectives This study investigated the facial skin complaints of office workers before and after the static electric fields of a visual display unit were reduced.Methods On the basis of a screening survey of 4556 office workers in 11 companies, 120 of 227 subjects reporting facial skin complaints were randomly selected to this double blind intervention study. Antistatic measures were used to reduce the static electric fields of the visual display unit in the intervention group but not in the control group, which worked with a visual display unit resembling that of the intervention group. Electric fields, dust concentration, health complaints, and psychological behavior tests were recorded before and after the intervention.Results The intervention group reported statistically significantly fewer facial skin complaints than the control group. In the intervention group, among those with an office dust concentration of >58 g/m3, a median reduction of 1.5 skin index points (scale 0-8) was achieved, whereas there was no change in the control group. In the regression model "group category" was still a significant variable after control for background factors. In addition, further linear regression analyses indicated that several static electric field parameters were predictors of the skin complaint reduction.Conclusions This field trial indicates that removing static electric fields from visual display units can probably help reduce the facial skin complaints of workers in offices with high dust concentrations.

This study evaluated the effect of an intensive ergonomic approach and education on workstation changes and musculoskeletal disorders among workers who used a video display unit (VDU).Both the intensive ergonomics approach and education in ergonomics help reduce discomfort in VDU work. In attempts to improve the physical ergonomics of VDU workstations, the best result will be achieved with cooperative planning in which both workers and practitioners are actively involved.

"La réglementation européenne et belge concernant les problèmes liés au travail avec écran demande que chaque entreprise cherche à éviter ou à réduire l'exposition des travailleurs à ce facteur de risque. Conformément à la stratégie SOBANE de gestion des risques professionnels, cette brochure décrit une méthode à quatre niveaux : dépistage, observation, analyse et expertise qui devrait permettre de mieux prévenir et /ou corriger les risques liés au travail avec écran. La brochure comprend une série de fiches d'aide.
Elle a été rédigée par le professeur Jacques Malchaire, chef de l'unité hygiène et physiologie du travail de l'UCL, qui a coordonné le projet SOBANE cofinancé par le SPF Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale et le Fonds social européen."

"Italian researchers from the Occupational Medicine Institute at the University of Sassari have completed a study on the causes of visual fatigue for video display terminals (VDT) workers in office environments. Specifically, they examined the part played by psychological factors in complaints about visual health reported by banking officers who work at VDTs. 212 people were asked to respond to three different questionnaires on subjects of job stress, subjective discomfort related to environmental and lighting conditions, and existence of oculovisual disturbances. Eye strain included itchy, sore, or heavy eyes, and blurred or double vision during or immediately after work three or more times a week. All subjects shared the same environment and work duties, and none had any history of eye problems. The study found that social support, group conflict, self esteem, work satisfaction, and under use of skills were found to be predictors of visual complaints. Subjective environmental factors, although in some cases significantly correlated with asthenopia, were not found to be strong predictors of the symptoms. Employees who felt they received social support were a third less likely to report eye strain. Lighting did not seem to affect levels of eye strain, but noise and environmental tobacco smoke did.The researchers concluded that some part of the complaints about visual health reported by VDT workers are likely indirect expressions of psychological discomfort related to working conditions. "

"This review summarizes the knowledge regarding ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorders and the association with computer work. A model of musculoskeletal disorders and computer work is proposed and the evidence and implications of the model together with issues for future research is discussed. The model emphasizes the associations between work organization, psychosocial factors and mental stress on the one hand and physical demands and physical load on the other. It is hypothesized that perceived muscular tension is an early sign of musculoskeletal disorder, which arises as a result of work organizational and psychosocial factors as well as from physical load and individual factors. It is further hypothesized that perceptions of exertion and comfort are other possible early signs of musculoskeletal disorders in computer work. Interventions aimed at reducing musculoskeletal disorders due to computer work should be directed at both physical/ergonomic factors and work organizational and psychosocial factors. Interventions should be carried out with management support and active involvement of the individual workers."(Author's abstract)