Muskuloskeletal disorders in demanding computer work – a 20 month follow-up after introduction of a mouse-based system
In computer work, musculoskeletal disorders are frequently reported, but the knowledge about causal relationships is limited. In air traffic control, female and male operators perform exactly the same computer work. Introduction of a new computer system implied a momentary change from a “varied system containing different in-put devices, to a system characterized by intensive mouse-work. The effect of the change on the physical exposure was studied, as well as the musculoskeletal health before and after the change. In addition, psychosocial factors were assessed. The physical workload, recorded in 14 subjects in both systems by technical measurements of postures, movements and muscular load, showed large differences: The mouse-intensive system was associated with lower movement velocities, less varying postures and higher muscular load in the right forearm extensors. Musculoskeletal disorders in neck and upper limbs were assessed by standardized physical examinations in 148 air traffic controllers (71 women and 77 men) and the psychosocial work environment by questionnaire. Disorders in elbows/hands increased significantly after 20 months of work in the mouse-intensive system, while in neck/shoulders/upper back, there was no consistent change. Disorders in elbows/hands were not explained by psychosocial factors. Most likely, these findings are applicable to similar technological developments in other settings.
I. Arvidsson A. Axmon G-(A) Hansson S. Skerfving
Dept of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden
国际会议
17th World Congress on Ergonomics(第十七届国际人类工效学大会)
北京
英文
1-6
2009-08-09（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）