Psychophysical rating of library employees' work tasks.
OBJECTIVE: This exploratory research aimed to identify the perceived physical demands of library assistants' and attendants' work tasks. STUDY DESIGN: A fixed format survey was completed by 36 library assistants and attendants from suburban and university libraries. Surveys were distributed and completed within the participants' workplaces. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's r correlations were calculated using the SPSS data analysis program. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed a hierarchical distribution of library assistants' and attendants' work tasks according to perceived physical demands. Significant Pearson's r correlations between personal factors and perceived exertion during some work tasks, were also identified. CONCLUSIONS: The hierarchical distribution of tasks revealed by this research can be used as a guide by therapists in designing graded suitable duties programs for library assistants and attendants following work-related injuries. Further task analysis is required to identify the critical physical requirements of those tasks receiving higher ratings of perceived exertion.
Lange
Tanya M. de
TM
Department of Occupational Therapy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Allen
Shelley M.
SM
Maas
Frikkie
F