The Influence of Ergonomic Interventions on Employee Stress and Physical Symptoms

A recent report by the GAO (1997) indicates that private sector employers spend as much as $20 billion annually for employee injuries and illnesses due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). While the etiologic mechanisms are poorly understood, there is increasing evidence that psychosocial risk facto...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Joseph, Kurt M, Thompson, Richard C, Bailey, Larry L, William, Clara A, Worley, Jody A
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ENVIRONMENTS
ERGONOMICS
Human Factors Engineering & Man Machine System
MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASES
RISK
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
STRESS(PHYSIOLOGY)
WORK
WOUNDS AND INJURIES
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Summary:A recent report by the GAO (1997) indicates that private sector employers spend as much as $20 billion annually for employee injuries and illnesses due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). While the etiologic mechanisms are poorly understood, there is increasing evidence that psychosocial risk factors related to the job and work environment play a role in the development of work-related MSDs. A longitudinal study was completed to determine the influence of six psychosocial factors and two cost-effective ergonomics interventions on physical discomfort and stress scores reported by employees within a Federal Aviation Administration organization. The results of the study revealed that stress scores decreased significantly across time. However, physical symptom scores did not change across time, nor were they affected by the ergonomic interventions. Two psychosocial factors provided significant and reliable adjustments to stress and physical discomfort scores.