Survey and intervention of ergonomic problems at the workplace

Based upon gradually developed and empirically tested interventions aimed at eliminating ergonomic problems as far as possible, six systematic steps are recommended with some kind of surveys as point of departure. It is emphasized that attention should be paid not only to physical conditions but also to psychosocial conditions, as an unsatisfactory psychosocial work environment in many cases has proved to contribute to musculoskeletal problems. The most common obstacles to obtaining positive intervention results are also described. These are lack of commitment from the line managers' point of view, neglecting to engage technicians and employees concerned, ignoring to take psychosocial conditions into consideration, and ignoring the impacts of the proposed changes on the wage system and the organizational system. It is a common belief within many industries that prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms can easily be eliminated by technical measures, proposed by ergonomic experts. However, you will run the risk of not being successful, if you do not involve the operators in question in the change process, and if you are not paying due attention to the psychosocial work environment factors.