ABSTRACT
A method was developed for completing office ergonomic assessments using the Internet. The method is usable on a company Intranet as well as over the Internet by home office users. The method utilizes current understanding of ergonomics in offices and requires people to complete a series of forms including a picture of the workstation. Once these forms are submitted, a trained facilitator scores the forms and develops a set of recommendations for the individual. This software is specifically designed for noncomplex situations, and particularly as a proactive measure. However, it is as effective reactively, if the musculoskeletal disorder symptoms are not too complex. The system was tested in a major energy services firm as well as across a group of people interested in musculoskeletal disorders in the office. The results demonstrate that the recommendations are essentially similar to those developed by an onsite assessment. In general, people were satisfied with the results. The benefits of the approach were also seen in time to complete the assessment being cut by 57% and the total cost reduced by 73%. However, it should be noted that people with complex musculoskeletal disorder symptoms or those with a history of dealing with musculoskeletal disorder symptoms, are generally dissatisfied as they prefer the human approach of an onsite assessment. In addition, an onsite assessment is capable of addressing other tasks performed in the office as well, for example, non-VDT work such as reading, handwriting, etc. In nearly 20% of the online assessments, an onsite assessment was recommended due to complex or severe musculoskeletal disorder symptoms. Even accounting for the additional cost of the onsite assessments, this method resulted in a cost reduction of approximately 50% and 37% reduction in time to complete the assessments.
