Identification and analysis of unsatisfactory psychosocial work situations: a participatory approach employing video-computer interaction

A method for psychosocial evaluation of potentially stressful or unsatisfac tory situations in manual work was developed. It focuses on subjective resp onses regarding specific situations and is based on interactive worker asse ssment when viewing video recordings of oneself. The worker is first video- recorded during work. The video is then displayed on the computer terminal, and the filmed worker clicks on virtual controls on the screen whenever an unsatisfactory psychosocial situation appears; a window of questions regar ding psychological demands, mental strain and job control is then opened. A library with pictorial information and comments on the selected situations is formed in the computer. The evaluation system, called PSIDAR, was appli ed in two case studies, one of manual materials handling in an automotive w orkshop and one of a group of workers producing and testing instrument pane ls. The findings indicate that PSIDAR can provide data that are useful in a participatory ergonomic process of change. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.