Effects of ergonomic intervention in printing workers on work-related musculoskeletal disorders and visual fatigue

Abstract

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are increasingly found in many industrial workers as well as printing workers. The WMSDs, such as clinical symptoms and visual fatigue, are impacting on human and work performance. The literature points a use of ergonomic intervention may be an effective way to improve human and work performance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ergonomic intervention on clinical symptoms and visual fatigue in printing workers. Physical examinations for the WMSDs, Critical Flicker Frequency (CFF) tests and Reaction Time (RT) tests were performed in 131 printing worker before and after applying the intervention, done by same orthopedic physical therapists. The CFF tests were accomplished for both eyes, while the RT tests were performed for the dominant hand. The ergonomic intervention consisted of a five-minute break (work improvement method) and specific exercises for workers during the break (human improvement method). This intervention was provided for workers over a one-month period. The clinical symptoms of the WMSDs in female workers (e.g. pain and stage of WMSDs) were significantly reduced one month after the completion of the intervention (p < 0.01). Number of the workers reported a reduction of the WMSD severity stages (65.57% in female workers, 42.86% in male workers), of the pain intensity scales (43.24% in female workers, 33.33% in male workers), and of the neural tissue tension (50% in female workers, 57.14% in male workers). Statistically significant differences of the CFF tests and the RT tests were found between baseline, pre-test, and post-test (p < 0.05). In summary, the ergonomic intervention could reduce the clinical symptoms of the WMSDs and visual fatigue in the printing workers. This intervention should be further applied to other workers with similar jobs.