WORKPLACE CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH A REDUCTION IN MUSCULOSKELETAL SYMPTOMS IN OFFICE WORKERS

The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with redu ctions observed in musculoskeletal symptoms when office workers were m oved to a new building. A questionnaire including items regarding symp toms and aspects of the work environment was administered to 577 offic e workers before and after they were moved from nine buildings to a si ngle new facility in 1992. Employees working in two reference building s, where they remained throughout the study period, were also surveyed . Two musculoskeletal outcomes, hand/arm and neck/shoulder/back, were selected for study. In matched multivariate analyses, the reduction in hand/arm symptoms from 1992 to 1993 was associated with improved sati sfaction with the physical workstation (odds ratio [OR] 2.0); the redu ction in neck/shoulder/back symptoms was associated with improved chai r comfort (OR = 1.8), fewer housekeeping responsibilities (OR = 3.6), female gender (OR = 1.8), and low pay range (OR = 1.7). Longitudinal r esults suggested that changes in workstations resulted in decreased sy mptoms. Results of this investigation might be used to develop workpla ce changes that result in reductions of musculoskeletal disorders.