IMPROVING PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL WORKING-CONDITIONS THROUGH A PARTICIPATORY ERGONOMIC PROCESS - A BEFORE-AFTER STUDY AT AN ENGINEERING WORKSHOP

A development process lasting nearly 3 years in an engineering plant e mploying 300 people was evaluated for psychosocial effects by using a before-after design. In the beginning, the plant had a high absenteeis m rate, mostly due to musculoskeletal injuries. The plant required sev eral procedural and technical improvements which were inhibited by adv ersarial industrial relations. A participatory process focusing on too ls and materials was carried out in all departments. As a result, nume rous technical and procedural improvements were achieved. The effects were assessed with questionnaire studies conducted before the process and after it. Even though the changes were mostly technical, several p ositive effects on the psychosocial work environment were observed. Ab senteeism fell by 25% and the positive effects on musculoskeletal load ing were obvious. Technical improvements were therefore a concrete way of achieving a favorable psychosocial impact.