Will Musculoskeletal, Visual and Psychosocial Stress Change for Visual Display Unit (VDU) Operators When Moving From a Single-Occupancy Office to an Office Landscape?

This study investigated the effect of moving from single-occupancy offices to a landscape environment. Thirty-two visual display unit (VDU) operators reported no significant change in visual discomfort. Lighting conditions and glare reported subjectively showed no significant correlation with visual...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal of occupational safety and ergonomics Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 259 - 274
Main Authors Helland, Magne, Horgen, Gunnar, Kvikstad, Tor Martin, Garthus, Tore, Aarås, Arne
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Taylor & Francis 01.01.2008
Subjects
Adult
Asthenopia - epidemiology
Blinking
Computer Terminals
Ergonomics
eye blinking
Humans
Interior Design and Furnishings
Lighting
lighting conditions
Middle Aged
Musculoskeletal Diseases - epidemiology
Musculoskeletal Diseases - prevention & control
Norway - epidemiology
Occupational Diseases - epidemiology
Occupational Health
office landscape
Stress, Psychological - epidemiology
User-Computer Interface
VDU workplaces
visual discomfort musculoskeletal illness
Workplace
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Summary:This study investigated the effect of moving from single-occupancy offices to a landscape environment. Thirty-two visual display unit (VDU) operators reported no significant change in visual discomfort. Lighting conditions and glare reported subjectively showed no significant correlation with visual discomfort. Experience of pain was found to reduce subjectively rated work capacity during VDU tasks. The correlation between visual discomfort and reduced work capacity for single-occupancy offices was r s = .88 (p = .000) and for office landscape r s = .82 (p = .000). Eye blink rate during habitual VDU work was recorded for 12 operators randomly selected from the 32 participants in the office landscape. A marked drop in eye blink rate during VDU work was found compared to eye blink rate during easy conversation. There were no significant changes in pain intensity in the neck, shoulder, forearm, wrist/hand, back or headache (.24 < p < .67). Pain levels in different body areas were significantly correlated with reduced work capacity, .77 < r s < .99 (p = .000).
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 23
ISSN:1080-3548
2376-9130
DOI:10.1080/10803548.2008.11076765