Musculoskeletal, visual and psychosocial stress in VDU operators before and after multidisciplinary ergonomic interventions. A 6 years prospective study - Part II

A prospective epidemiological field study covering a 2 years period has ear lier been published (Appl. Ergon. (1998) 29(5) 335). The study has a parall el group design with two intervention groups (T and S) and one control grou p (C) of Visual Display Unit (VDU) operators. The present paper covers the period from 2 to 6 years of the study. After 3.5 years, the C group got the same intervention in terms of new fighting system, new workplaces and at l ast an optometric examination and corrections if needed. The C group report ed a significant reduction in visual discomfort after interventions while t he two groups (T and S) continued to report significant reduction of visual discomfort after 6 years. By supporting the forearm on the table top, the C group reported significant reduction of shoulder and neck pain while the T group reported significant reduction in shoulder and back pain after 6 ye ars. Organizational and psychosocial factors at work and outside work did n ot show any significant changes during the study period. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.