Could a participatory ergonomics intervention prevent musculoskeletal disorders? A randomized controlled trial

¹ Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Finland
² National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health, Finland
³ Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate of Turku and Pori, Finland
⁴ City of Helsinki, Finland
⁵ National Public Health Institute, Finland

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: eija.haukka{at}ttl.fi.

Accepted 20 March 2008

	Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives: To examine the efficacy of a participatory ergonomics intervention in preventing musculoskeletal disorders among kitchen workers. Participatory ergonomics is commonly recommended to reduce musculoskeletal disorders, but evidence for its effectiveness is sparse.

Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial among the 504 workers of 119 kitchens in Finland was conducted during 2002-2005. Kitchens were randomized to an intervention (n = 59) and control (n = 60) group. The duration of the intervention that guided the workers to identify strenuous work tasks and to seek solutions for decreasing physical and mental workload, was 11 to 14 months. In total, 402 ergonomic changes were implemented. The main outcome measures were the occurrence of and trouble caused by musculoskeletal pain in seven anatomical sites, local fatigue after work, and sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders. Individual level data were collected by questionnaire at baseline and every three months during the intervention and one-year follow-up period. All response rates exceeded 92%.

Results: No systematic differences in any outcome variable were found between the intervention and control groups during the intervention or during the one-year follow-up.

Conclusions:The intervention did not reduce perceived physical work load and no evidence was found for the efficacy of the intervention in preventing musculoskeletal disorders among kitchen workers. It may be that a more comprehensive redesign of work organization and processes is needed, taking more account of workers' physical and mental resources.