[VDT worker's posture and workload in free-address office system].
A free-address system is a new office layout in which a worker can freely sit in their favorite place with a computer and materials. Since this layout has recently been introduced in offices, we conducted a questionnaire survey which aimed to clarify the effects of the free-address system on visual display terminals (VDT) workers' posture and workload. A total of 203 male VDT workers who were system engineers aged 20 to 59 using a notebook computer were evaluated, of whom 150 used the free-address layout, and 53 used the fixed-address layout. The free-address layout was effective in the improvement of individual work space compared with the fixed-address layout. Also, in this layout the worker did not feel dissatisfaction with communication or support between workers. However, workers using the free-address layout assumed an unsuitable work posture, without adjusting the height of their chairs. Furthermore, this layout might have risk factors which increase neck/shoulder and low back stiffness and/or pain. Therefore, the free-address layout may have incipient problems, and it will be necessary to examine further the effects of this layout on VDT worker's health.
Iwakiri
Kazuyuki
K
National Institute of Industrial Health, Kawasaki, Japan. iwakiri@hiih.go.jp
Mori
Ippei
I
Sotoyama
Midori
M
Nose
Kaori
K
Ochiai
Takanori
T
Jonai
Hiroshi
H
Saito
Susumu
S
D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000175:diagnosis; D016288:Computer Terminals; D004391:Dust; D006804:Ergonomics; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload; D017132:Workplace
D004391:Dust