Office Pain and Discomfort: Over 26,000 Employees Tell You Their Story OF5 Presented by: Tony Silva, CPE
Objectives • Examine the relationship between discomfort: • Demographics • Products • Attitude and knowledge • Discuss how these findings should impact the approach taken to complete office ergonomic assessments
Procedure • 26,469 participants • Subset of clients served by Atlas over 9-year period (2009-2017) • Variety of sectors including financial, petroleum, pharmaceutical, healthcare, and insurance • All participants at a computer workstation • Combination of both office and home
Procedure • Data collection was completed using Atlas’ web-based office ergonomics assessment software AtlasOffice™ • Initiation of survey a combination of: • Proactive program deployment • Reactive (responding to an individual’s need) • Each question within the survey is designed to assess different elements of office ergonomic risk and is based on current research and standards
Procedure • Demographics • Gender, age, height, weight and hand size • Discomfort: • Participant is asked if he/she is experiencing discomfort • If yes, asked to identify the location of the discomfort • Discomfort is then assessed in each area using a 5- point scale for frequency and severity of symptoms
Procedure
Procedure • Discomfort Prevalence: Percentage of employees that are experiencing discomfort • Body Part Discomfort Scores: Frequency and severity scores are multiplied together to provide a measure of the discomfort for a single body part • Total Discomfort: Adding all body part discomfort scores provides a total discomfort score • Average Total Discomfort: to compare differences between groups the average of the discomfort scores across all participants in the group were calculated. For example, the average total discomfort for employees who are <5’1” is 33.01.
Procedure • Productivity: Participants were asked the frequency with which discomfort affects productivity using a 5- point
BMI Distribution
BMI Distribution • This data demonstrates similar percentages in the general population as collected by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) • The CDC found an incidence of obesity in the US at 37.9% as compared to the study’s finding of 35%. • Also, the CDC found 70.7% of people either overweight or obese in comparison to the study’s finding of 66%.
Height Distribution
Age Distribution
Gender Distribution
Job Tenure Distribution
Daily Computer Use
Hand Size Distribution
Demographics vs. Discomfort • Higher BMI is associated with progressively greater discomfort and productivity loss. • At the highest obesity classification, the levels of discomfort and productivity loss compared to normal BMI are striking. • 32 % greater total body discomfort, 531% greater knee discomfort, 43% greater low back discomfort, and 15% greater wrist/hand discomfort. • Productivity loss reaches 64% for the same Obese Class III workers.
Demographics vs. Discomfort • Shorter stature is associated with progressively greater discomfort and productivity loss. • Individuals under 5’3” have the highest overall levels of discomfort, and those 5’6” and under have the highest levels of productivity loss compared to taller participants.
Demographics vs. Discomfort • There is not a significant difference in overall discomfort when comparing participants’ ages. • Productivity loss is higher in younger participants.
Demographics vs. Discomfort • When computer time increases over 4 hours per day, including time at work and home, the likelihood of discomfort in the head/neck, shoulder, wrist/hand, and low back are significantly greater. • This extends into productivity loss as well.
Demographics vs. Discomfort • Employees with small hand size have higher average upper extremity discomfort, especially noted in the elbow, wrist and hand. • Lower incidence of productivity loss in individuals with larger-sized hands.
Demographics vs. Discomfort • Although there is an increase in average discomfort when comparing women to men, the data does not point to gender as the contributing factor as much as the characteristics of women. • Females generally have a shorter stature, higher BMI and smaller hand size. • Each of these demographic characteristics lend to the higher rate of discomfort and loss of productivity.
Impact on Approach • Continue/expand ergonomic and wellness programs for obese workers to address discomfort and potential productivity loss. • Be cautious of deploying standing workstations for all of the work population. • Emphasis should be placed on ergonomic modifications for individuals 5’3” and under, as well as those over 6’3”. • Emphasis should be placed on ergonomic modifications and training for younger employees, targeting programs on reinforcing good work habits.
Impact on Approach • Emphasis should not be placed on the employee’s job tenure. There is no link to increased discomfort or loss of productivity. • Emphasis should be placed on ergonomics programs for workers that spend greater than 4 hours of time on the computer daily. • Emphasis should be placed on ergonomics interventions for workers with smaller sized hands.
Impact on Approach • Emphasis should not be placed on gender. • Instead, modifications and programs should be placed for employees with smaller-sized hands, those of shorter stature, and in Class II and III Obesity.
Products vs. Discomfort • Products studied: • Chair adjustability • Type of computer (desktop vs. laptop vs. tablet) • Keyboard/mouse position (tabletop vs. tray) • Monitor position • Work surface adjustability
Products vs. Discomfort Seat Height Adjustability • 90% of employees have seat height adjustability • Only 60% report having proper position of their thighs and legs (approximate right angles and hips and knees) • Only 75% report having their feet flat on the floor or a footrest. • Significant more discomfort for individuals who have the feature but do it is not adjusted properly when compared to those who simply do not have the feature
Products vs. Discomfort Seat Depth Adjustability • 41% of employees have this feature • For those without this feature, only significant difference in discomfort is in the hip/thighs • Again, significant more discomfort for individuals who have the feature but it is not adjusted properly when compared to those who simply do not have the feature • Specifically in the hips and ankles/feet
Products vs. Discomfort Lumbar Support Adjustment • 46% of employees have this feature • For those without this feature, significant difference in discomfort in the low and upper back • Again, significant more discomfort for individuals who have the feature but it is not adjusted properly when compared to those who simply do not have the feature • Specifically in the low back, upper back and neck
Products vs. Discomfort Tilt Lock • 58% of employees have this feature • For those without this feature, significant difference in discomfort is in the upper back • We could not evaluate use of this feature, it is not part of our survey questions
Products vs. Discomfort Arm Rest Height • 77% of employees have this feature • For those without this feature, no difference in discomfort • Significant more discomfort for individuals who have the feature but do not have it adjusted properly when compared to those who simply do not have the feature • All body parts, especially the elbows
Products vs. Discomfort Arm Rest Width • Only 28% of employees have this feature • For those without this feature, no difference in discomfort • Significant more discomfort for individuals who have the feature but do not have it adjusted properly when compared to those who simply do not have the feature • All body parts, especially the elbows
Products vs. Discomfort Productivity • Having the chair features alone did not demonstrate a significant increase in productivity • For those with the chair features but not adjusted properly, productivity loss is highest and significant
Products vs. Discomfort Products vs. Discomfort Summary • Lack of proper adjustment and chair use is associated with greater discomfort and productivity loss. • The availability of most chair adjustments alone does not significantly decrease discomfort or affect productivity. • The highest increase in productivity loss and level of discomfort are seen with employees who do not have proper lumbar support.
Products vs. Discomfort Type of Computer • Majority (74%) use a desktop • 26% use a laptop; of these 92% use an external monitor, 90% use an external mouse, and 89% use an external keypad • < 1 % reported using a tablet • When external devices are used, it allows the laptop to work essentially as a desktop computer. • This leaves less than 3% of the population of this data set using laptop computers or tablets. There is therefore insufficient data to make comparisons within the data set for discomfort or productivity.
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