| The purpose of this study was to develop a quantitative risk measure tool to be used as a prevention approach for the cumulative trauma disorders that commonly affect individuals that work in the office area. The specific cumulative traumas studied under this project are related to the following body areas: upper back, neck, lower back, waist, hands, and wrists. A checklist containing the risk factors was employed in different office workstations to collect data related to workstation design, equipment, task load, body postures, employee persona information and personal habits.;Different regression models were developed using the MinitabRTM statistical package. Each regression model was developed using the logistic regression technique, in which the response that is going to be studied presents a binary behavior (0 or 1).;Results obtained by the regression models were validated against the statistical regression basic presumptions. Some statistical indicators were used to verify the regression output results. Regression coefficients significance level, regression variables correlation, and coefficients of determination are some of the statistical measures that were used to evaluate the capability of the regression equations obtained for each one of the cumulative traumas studied.;Once the regression equations were completed and validated, an application of the checklist was performed to verify the equations performance using a real example. Using the regression equations obtained, it was possible to estimate the probability of acquiring each one of the cumulative traumas.;Finally, some specific ergonomic recommendations were provided based on the problems found during the application of the checklist. The tool developed in this study was very useful to determine which workstations represent the highest risk level for musculoskeletal cumulative trauma disorders within the office environment. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
