INDOOR CLIMATE AND PSYCHOSOCIAL WORK ENVIRONMENT IN CELLULAR, MULTI-PERSON AND OPEN-PLAN OFFICES

摘要

To study the psychosocial work environment and the indoor environment in offices a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was performed in 11 naturally and 11 mechanically ventilated office buildings. Both buildings with cellular,multi-person and open-plan offices were studied. Halfofthe buildings were from the private sector while the other half consisted of public or governmental buildings. In each building 100 to 300 occupants completed a retrospective questionnaire looking back at the last four weeks. The questionnaire comprised questions concerning environmental perceptions, irritation of the mucus membrane, skin irritation, general symptoms and psychosocial factors such as: demands at work, job control, motivation, quality of leadership, social support, insecurity at work,job satisfaction, general health, mental health and vitality. Occupants in open-plan offices are more likely to be exposed to thermally discomfortable conditions, poor air quality and noise, and they more frequently complain about CNS and mucous membrane symptoms than occupants in multi-person and cellular offices. The association between psychosocial factors and office size was weak.