Ergonomic evaluation of office workplaces with Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA)

摘要

The regular use of the computer in the office contributed to the appearance of many risk factors related with work-relatedmusculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) such as maintaining static sitting postures for long time and awkward postures of the head,neck and upper limbs, leading to increased muscle activity in the cervical spine and shoulders. The objective of this study was toevaluate the presence of risk factors for WRMSD in an office using the Rapid Assessment Office Strain method (ROSA). Basedon the results of this ergonomic evaluation, an occupational gym program was designed and implemented. Thirty-eightworkplaces were evaluated using the observation of the tasks and pictures records in order to characterize those tasks in moredetail. The ROSA tool was applied by an observer, who selected the appropriate score based on the worker's posture as well asthe time spent in each posture. Scores were recorded for the sections of the method, specifically Chair, Monitor and Mouse andKeyboard and Telephone. The scores were recorded in a sheet developed for the method. The mean ROSA final score was 3.61 ±0.64, for Chair section was 3.45 ± 0.55, to Monitor and Telephone section was 3.11 ± 0.61, and to Mouse and Keyboard sectionwas 2.11 ± 0.31. The results led to understand that the analyzed tasks represent situations of risk of discomfort and, according tothe methods guidelines, further research and modifications of the workplace may be necessary. It should be emphasized thatthese scores may not be related to the poor available equipment but with the need to optimize their use by the workers. It wasnoticed also that the interaction of workers with the tasks and the adopted sitting posture at the computer throughout the day haveeffects at a muscular level, essentially for the cervical area and shoulders. ROSA tool is an useful and easy method to assessseveral risk factors associated with WRMSD, also allowing the design of specific occupational gym programs.