En studie av fysiska, organisatoriska och individuella riskfaktorer hos arbetstagare med datorarbete
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are common in individuals with computer based work. Thecurrently known risk factors for these disorders is in the literature derived to physical,organizational and individual factors. A recent survey of three working groups at a companyin Stockholm explored that more than 50% of the employees had neck and shoulder problems.Aim: The study aims to create a better understanding for the current musculoskeletalproblems at the company. Such an understanding is created by examining the physical,organizational and individual risk factors in the workplace and the result can provide a goodbasis for intervention proposals.Method: In order to answer the aim of the study the authors chosed to use both qualitativeand quantitative methods of data collection through interviews and questionnaire survey. Theinterview and questionnaire was designed to create both a specific and comprehensive pictureof the physical, organizational and individual risk factors having a bearing effect on theexisting MSD problem.Result: Seven categories were compiled from interviews, which largely deals with the factthat high demands can lead to behaviors that may pose a significant risk for the occurrence ofMSD. Behaviours such as taking fewer breaks and having a hard time letting go of workduring breaks and free time. In addition it was found that workers believe that the ventilationis a major cause of the problem. A widespread dissatisfaction with ventilation, temperatureand noise were also seen in the responses from the survey. A correlation analysis showed thatan exposure of multiple physical risk factors correlate with the prevalence of MSD amongworkers.Conclusion: The result of this study exemplifies how the interaction between organizationaland individual factors may cause MSD in the neck and shoulder. However, it seems that theworkers themselves often relate the MSD problem to physical risk factors in the workingenvironment such as poor ventilation. A dissatisfaction with physical factors in the workenvironment seems to have a moderate correlation with the prevalence of MSD among theworkers.Keywords: Musculoskeletal disorders, Neck, Shoulder, Computer work, VDU, Risk factors,Organization