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KEY WORDS
* ergonomics
* microscope
* occupational therapy
* work
OBJECTIVE. This study evaluated the effect of an occupational therapy ergonomics intervention on the workstation design and body positioning of microscope workers at a fiber optics facility.
METHOD. The study was quasi-experimental. Fifty-one microscope workers were assigned to one of three groups: control, education only, and education training. Their workstation design and body positioning were assessed before and after intervention.
RESULTS. Workers who participated in a client-centered, participatory, and onsite ergonomics program demonstrated improved workstation design and improved body positioning compared with both a control group (p = .000) and an education-only group (p = .001). These results were supported through analysis of covariance and effect size calculations. Workers who received only educational handouts also demonstrated improved body positioning and workstation design when compared with the control group (p = .001).
CONCLUSION. Researchers concluded that participation, client-centered training, context, and feedback represented critical components of ergonomics training.
Darragh, A. R., Harrison, H., & Kenny, S. (2008). Effect of an ergonomics intervention on workstations of microscope workers. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 61-69.
Ergonomics has become an area of practice for many occupational therapists and is identified as an emerging area of practice by the American Occupational Therapy Association (Brachtesende, 2005). Simply put, ergonomics is the adaptation or fitting of work responsibilities and environments to the abilities of the worker (Cohen, Gjessing, Fine, Bernard, & McGlothlin, 1997). The goal of the occupational therapist in ergonomics is to prevent or reduce exposure to risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs; Droeze & Jonsson, 2005). It is an important and appropriate practice area for occupational therapists who offer knowledge and training in the physiology and psychology of human engagement in occupation and the interaction of the worker's cognitive, physical, and psychological capacity with the demands of work (Clinger, Dodson, Maltchev, & Page, 2007).
The authors of this study integrated principles of health education and ergonomics with occupational therapy practice to design a comprehensive ergonomics program that reflected central themes of occupational therapy practice, including client-centered practice, client collaboration throughout the intervention process, and participation in context (AOTA, 2002). As recommended by Butler (1997), they integrated three domains of learning (cognitive, affective, and psychomotor) into their...