ERGO@OFFICE: A Participatory Ergonomics Approach for Strategic Interventions and Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders in SMEs

Abstract

Participatory ergonomics programs engage employees in preventive strategies. Ergo@Office is an integrated methodology for continuously implementing preventive measures while participatorily monitoring their effectiveness. Ergo@Office is directed towards computerized workplaces and aims identification and assessment of ergonomic risks, job psychosocial factors, musculoskeletal complaints and symptoms of disorders and individual characteristics and habits. This is followed by design and implementation of an intervention action plan. Initially, an occupational health and safety technician (HST) applies the risk factor identification methodology. The objective of the training that ensues is to capacitate and enable workers to propose an intervention plan for their work. To this follows application of suitable risk assessment methods to situations where ergonomic mismatches were detected by the HST. Finally, preventive and corrective measures to be implemented in each job, are devised in an ergonomic intervention plan for each employee. Monitoring of implemented measures enables assessing their effectiveness and their up-to-date adjustment.