Ergonomic Challenges of Employees Using Computers at Work in a Tertiary Institution in Ghana

Abstract

Objective: Ergonomically designed workstations have direct bearing on the comfort and safety of office computer users. Tremendous usage of computers in most offices of emerging economies have however, not seen accompanying applications of ergonomics in the design of computer workstations despite the numerous benefits. Injuries and discomforts therefore have higher propensity to occur since most offices formally designed for paperbased work now accommodate computer workstations, without corresponding redesigning. The study therefore sought to assess computer workstation designs in administrative offices at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, with the aim of creating awareness of ergonomics and its application among administrative office computer users.Method: A total of 150 office employees purposively sampled participated in this study. Respondents selected included secretaries, research assistants and data and account processors. This cross-sectional study consisted of a checklist (computer workstation components, visual complaints and ergonomics knowledge), work posture observations and measurements of workstation linear distances and monitor tilt angle. Descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20.0 was used for data analysis.Results: Almost half (50%) of respondents had monitors facing windows without appropriate blinds, 42% with monitor tilt angle less than 10 degrees and majority (76%) observed monitors either at or above horizontal eye level. Most (70%) of the workers acknowledged not having knowledge of ergonomics whiles 100% noted that they did not have any ergonomic assessment of their workstations. Neck, back and shoulder pains were reported by 85% of respondents while 73% complained of eyestrain. Conclusion:The study revealed lack of information and skills in ergonomics contributing to poor ergonomic conditions and consequent visual discomforts among computer users in the work place.

Knowledge of computer ergonomics and incidence of musculoskeletal disorders among students of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India

“…Gerret et al (2002) in a study reported that individuals in computer workstations have a prevalence of 10-62% musculoskeletal symptoms in their neck and shoulder region. Kumah et al (2016) in another study also reported that 85 % of the respondents experienced musculoskeletal problems in the neck, back and shoulder, which could be attributed to the ergonomic deficiencies at the workstations. Ardahan and Simsek (2016) in a study on musculoskeletal disorders in computer users reported that participants reported musculoskeletal symptoms most commonly in the neck (67.85%), upper back (66.33%), lower back (59.49%), right shoulder (45.32%) and left shoulder (43.54%).…”

“…About 91 % of the girls and 85 % of the boys sometimes felt pain or stiffness in neck, shoulder or back. Headaches result from several things that occur with computer work like screen glare and poor image quality (Alan, 2000 Prominent among these discomforts were eyestrain, burning eyes, itchy and red eyes (Kumah et al, 2016). Nearly half of the girls (55%) and about 31 % of boys needed to massage their hands, wrists and arms during or after computer use.…”

“…An individual"s knowledge base plays a crucial role in the behavioral patterns he or she adopts. Kumah et al (2016) in a study tested the knowledge of respondents regarding computer ergonomics and found that most (70%) of the workers acknowledged not having knowledge of ergonomics related to computer use practices. Shantakumari et al (2012) in a study also reported that only 44 % students were aware of computer ergonomics.…”