Traci L. Galinsky

A field study of supplementary rest breaks for data-entry operators.

This study examined the effects of supplementary rest breaks on musculoskeletal discomfort, eyestrain, mood, and performance in data-entry workers. Two rest break schedules were compared in a within-subjects design. Workers alternated between a ‘conventional’ and a ‘supplementary’ schedule in 4-week intervals. The conventional schedule contained a 15-min break during the first half of the work shift and a 15-min break during the second half of the shift. The supplementary schedule contained the same two 15-min breaks, and a 5-min break during each hour which otherwise did not contain a break, for a total of 20 extra minutes of break time. Results are based on data from 42 workers. They indicated that discomfort in several areas of the body, and eyestrain, were significantly lower under the supplementary than under the conventional schedule. While symptoms increased from pre- to post-work periods under both schedules, the magnitude of the increases was significantly less under the supplementary schedule. In addition, increases in discomfort of the right forearm, wrist and hand over the course of the work week under the conventional schedule were eliminated under the supplementary schedule. These beneficial effects were obtained without reductions in data-entry performance.

Niosh Research Efforts to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Healthcare Industry

Healthcare workers, including orthopaedic nurses, face a number of risk factors in the workplace for musculoskeletal disorders such as back and shoulder injuries. These disorders are associated with excessive back and shoulder loading due to manual patient handling, applying excessive forces during pushing and/or pulling of objects, required use of awkward postures during patient care, and working long hours and shiftwork. No healthcare workers are immune from injury because workers in all clinical areas are exposed to occupational risk factors, including hospitals, nursing homes, emergency services, critical care, operating rooms, orthopaedic units, and home healthcare environments. This article includes a summary of the scientific efforts of the researchers and their partners at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in evaluating and developing the best practice recommendations for reducing risk of these disorders for exposed workers. The studies conducted by NIOSH researchers and their partners approach the problem from a variety of perspectives, ranging from comprehensive epidemiological studies examining the effectiveness of implementation of a safe patient handling and movement program to laboratory studies evaluating the biomechanical stress associated with using patient handling equipment, and education training programs for use in schools of nursing to educate new workers about safe work practices. Results of these studies have provided scientific evidence that significant occupational risks for musculoskeletal disorders exist and that effective interventions are available to reduce the risk for these workers.

The impact of keyboard design on comfort and productivity in a text-entry task

Concerns have arisen that the keyboard is a causal factor in the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) among video display terminal (VDT) operators. A number of alternative keyboard designs have been developed with altered geometry in an effort to improve comfort in keyboard operation. However, few data are available to substantiate whether these new keyboard designs are actually effective in reducing discomfort and musculoskeletal problems in users. The purpose of this study was to provide data on the efficacy of certain alternative keyboard design features (e.g. splitting the keyboard in half, and laterally inclining the keyboard halves) in reducing fatigue and musculoskeletal discomfort among keyboard operators. The study also explored the effects of these design features on performance. Fifty subjects performed a text-entry task for one day on a standard keyboard, then were assigned to one of five keyboard conditions for an evaluation period of two days (i.e. 10 subjects/condition). Outcome measures included performance (i.e. keystrokes/h, errors/h) and self-report measures of discomfort and fatigue. The results indicated an initial decline in productivity when subjects began typing on two of the alternative keyboards, but these productivity losses were recovered within the two-day evaluation period. The results also indicated no significant differences between keyboard conditions in discomfort and fatigue. These results suggest a minimal impact of the keyboard design features examined in this study on productivity, comfort and fatigue, at least after two days of exposure.

Overexertion Injuries in Home Health Care Workers and the Need for Ergonomics

ABSTRACT Home health care workers have high rates of back injuries and other musculoskeletal problems. This article addresses issues surrounding work-related overexertion injuries in home health care workers, including summaries of relevant research on workers in home settings as well as in traditional health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. The main work factors associated with these injuries are forceful exertions and awkward postures during patient- care tasks, especially while lifting and moving patients. Ergonomics–the design of work tasks to best accommodate natural human capabilities–is the most promising approach for preventing injuries, and for enhancing the comfort and safety of workers and patients.

Suggestions for preventing musculoskeletal disorders in home healthcare workers. Part 2: lift and transfer assistance for non-weight-bearing home care patients.

Home healthcare (HHC) is one of the fastest-growing professions, currently employing more than 1 million workers in the United States. Unfortunately, these workers sustain an exceptionally high rate of musculoskeletal disorders. This is the second article in a two-part series providing information and suggestions for preventing overexertion that can lead to such disorders.

Mood disturbances and musculoskeletal discomfort: effects of electronic performance monitoring under different levels of VDT data-entry performance

The effects of electronic performance monitoring (EPM) work management on mood disturbances and musculoskeletal discomfort were evaluated under three levels of data‐entry task performance. EPM work management (i.e., performance monitoring and feedback) was used to induce compliance with data‐entry performance standards of greater than or equal to 200 keystrokes per minute and less than or equal to six errors per minute. Forty‐seven female office workers who had difficulty maintaining the data‐entry speed standard were assigned at random to EPM work management or no EPM work management. Participants in both work management conditions were divided into three keystroke performance groups (low, moderate, high). Self‐ratings of mood disturbance and musculoskeletal discomfort were recorded at periodic intervals over three consecutive workdays. Regardless of the level of data‐entry performance, the increase in perceived time pressure across the workdays was greater under EPM work management than under no EPM wor...

Assessing muscular fatigue with a portable tremor measurement system suitable for field use

The utility of a portable tremor measurement system for detecting muscle fatigue was evaluated. Static arm extension was used to induce fatigue. A probe containing two accelerometers, held in the extended hand, recorded horizontal and vertical tremor oscillations in the 1- to 18-Hz range. Several summary amplitude and frequency measures were then derived to analyze hand/arm tremor in the unfatigued and the fatigued states. Large increases from unfatigued to fatigued states were observed in all of the amplitude measures in both axes. Summary frequency measures were far less sensitive to fatigue. Correlations between consecutively measured observations revealed high levels of reliability (r τ .80) in all of the amplitude measures, but not in the frequency measures. The most robust index of fatigue was the total power in the entire 1- to 18-Hz spectrum. The other amplitude measures, however, are suitable for examining the effects of fatigue in isolated portions of the spectrum.

The influence of performance standards and feedback on speed and accuracy in an electronically monitored data-entry task

This study examined performance effects of using electronic performance monitoring (EPM) and feedback to induce compliance with speed and accuracy standards in a data entry task. The study focused on subjects who had difficulty meeting a preestablished data entry speed standard. Subjects performed a data‐entry task for 3 days. On the 1st (baseline) day, no performance standards were imposed, and all subjects were instructed to work at their normal speed and accuracy levels. For the 2nd and 3rd days of the experiment, subjects were assigned at random to one of two groups. In an experimental group, EPM and feedback were used to induce compliance with preestablished speed and accuracy standards. In a control group, subjects were unaware of EPM and received no feedback; they were instructed to continue working at their normal speed and accuracy levels. The introduction of EPM work management in the experimental group led to significant increases in data‐entry speed that were accompanied by significant increas...