TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of the effects of two alternative participatory ergonomics intervention strategies for construction companies
AU - Visser, Steven
AU - van der Molen, Henk F.
AU - Sluiter, Judith K.
AU - Frings-Dresen, Monique H. W.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - To improve the use of ergonomics tools by construction workers, the effect of two guidance strategies–a face-to-face strategy (F2F) and an e-guidance strategy (EG)–of a participatory ergonomics intervention was studied. Twelve construction companies were randomly assigned to the F2F group or the EG group. The primary outcome measure, the percentage of workers using ergonomics tools, and secondary outcome measures–work ability, physical functioning and limitations due to physical problems–were assessed using surveys at baseline and after 6 months. Additionally, a cost-benefit analysis was performed on company level. No differences in primary and secondary outcomes were found with the exception of the use of ergonomics tools to adjust working height (F2F +1%; EG +10%; p =.001). Newly-implemented tools were used by 23% (F2F) and 42% (EG) of the workers (p =.271). Costs were mainly determined by guidance costs (F2F group) or purchase costs (EG group). Practitioner Summary: Participatory strategies aim to stimulate behavioural change of stakeholders to increase the use of ergonomics tools. Two guidance strategies–face-to-face or e-mail interventions–among construction companies were studied. Both guidance strategies led to an increase in the use of new ergonomics tools.
AB - To improve the use of ergonomics tools by construction workers, the effect of two guidance strategies–a face-to-face strategy (F2F) and an e-guidance strategy (EG)–of a participatory ergonomics intervention was studied. Twelve construction companies were randomly assigned to the F2F group or the EG group. The primary outcome measure, the percentage of workers using ergonomics tools, and secondary outcome measures–work ability, physical functioning and limitations due to physical problems–were assessed using surveys at baseline and after 6 months. Additionally, a cost-benefit analysis was performed on company level. No differences in primary and secondary outcomes were found with the exception of the use of ergonomics tools to adjust working height (F2F +1%; EG +10%; p =.001). Newly-implemented tools were used by 23% (F2F) and 42% (EG) of the workers (p =.271). Costs were mainly determined by guidance costs (F2F group) or purchase costs (EG group). Practitioner Summary: Participatory strategies aim to stimulate behavioural change of stakeholders to increase the use of ergonomics tools. Two guidance strategies–face-to-face or e-mail interventions–among construction companies were studied. Both guidance strategies led to an increase in the use of new ergonomics tools.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85055566546&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30350755
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2018.1516806
DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2018.1516806
M3 - Article
C2 - 30350755
SN - 0014-0139
VL - 62
SP - 42
EP - 51
JO - Ergonomics
JF - Ergonomics
IS - 1
ER -