Documents Ketola, Ritva 3 results

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.

Interobserver repeatability and validity were assessed for a new semiquantitative, time-based observation method for the estimation of physical loads imposed on the upper extremities. Six risk factors of upper extremity disorders were included in the method: repetitive use of hand, use of hand force, pinch grip, non-neutral wrist posture, elevation of upper arm, local mechanical pressure. Two occupational health nurses were trained to use the method. They observed 127 work cycles at a food-processing plant and a paper mill. The method was validated against expert observations from the video, continuous recordings of myoelectric activity (EMG) of forearm muscles, and wrist posture measured with goniometers. Interobserver repeatability was good or moderate for repetitive use of hand, hand force, pinch grip (range ? = 0.58 - 0.71 on the right; 0.60 - 0.61 on the left side). Interobserver repeatability was moderate or poor for non-neutral wrist posture, elevation of the upper arm and local mechanical pressure. Validity ranged from moderate to good for repetitive use of hand, use of hand force, pinch grip and non-neutral wrist posture when expert observation was used as reference standard. When observations were validated against force estimations (EMG) and wrist goniometer data, validity was poor. In the absence of generally accepted reference values, arbitrarily chosen limits were used for the proportional duration of some physical load factors. Studies should be carried out to assess the limits that best differentiate between safe and hazardous jobs

"The European Directive on computer work (VDU 90/270/EEC) is implemented in the Finnish Government Decree. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the legislation and its applications in practice. The quantitative method used an online questionnaire. The respondents were employers (N = 934), employees (N = 1872) and occupational health care (OHC) units (N = 289). The majority of all these three groups considered the provisions clear and easy to understand, comprehensive, and easy to comply with. The provisions had a great impact on preventing mental overloading, arranging sight tests at the employer's cost, and on the refunding of eyeglasses for computer work. Most employers felt they did not need any more specific provisions, whereas half of the employees and OHC professionals would have liked the provisions to be more detailed. More explicit and specific regulations were also needed for practice applications in particular, as well as for the refunding of the costs of special eyeglasses for computer work. A total of 59% of the employers reported that costs of glasses are refunded, whereas the figure for employees was clearly lower (37%). OHC professionals reported that the costs of glasses were refunded in 82% of their customer workplaces. The practical conclusion is that employees' sight examinations and compensation for eyeglasses should be promoted in computer work. Moreover, ergonomic applications are best carried out in co-operation with OHC personnel."