title: Ergonomic intervention: its effect on working posture and musculoskeletal symptoms in female biomedical scientists.
abstract: This study investigates the effect of ergonomic intervention on working posture and musculoskeletal symptoms in female biomedical scientists. The Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ), body discomfort chart (BDC) and rapid upper-limb assessment (RULA) are the tools for assessment. The study was conducted in three phases: pre-intervention, intervention and post-intervention. Pre-intervention, 79% of subjects reported a three-month prevalence of symptoms, and these were reported more frequently by those working in haematology/transfusion. Analysis by RULA showed that the majority (59%) of postures had a grand score of four. A further 24% had scores of five or six. The highest frequency of poor postures was seen in haematology/transfusion. Intervention comprised physical workplace changes, a seminar, and advice on risk factors. In the post-intervention phase, baseline measurements were repeated. Reporting of three-month prevalence of symptoms had decreased to 54%, and reports of body discomfort also had decreased. The majority (64%) had a RULA grand score of three. No observed postures had scores of five or six. In conclusion, ergonomic intervention resulted in an improvement in working postures, and a decrease in the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and body discomfort. Analysis of findings indicate that RULA scores generally corresponded with reporting of symptoms (NMQ) and discomfort (BDC).
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, Tullamore General Hospital, Co. Offaly, Ireland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kilroy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dockrell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D011187:Posture