Cornell University Ergonomics Web

Ergonomic Intervention & Follow-up Study
of the
City of Ithaca
Department of Planning and Development

 

Introduction

Workstations

Results

Discussion

Results Comfort Scales and RULA Scores, before & after intervention   For Comfort Scales (mouse, chair, keyboard, phone, screen) 5: Very Uncomfortable 4: Uncomfortable 3: Slightly Uncomfortable 2: Comfortable 1: Very Comfortable *For RULA: 1 or 2: Acceptable 3 or 4: Investigate further 4 or 5: Investigate further & change soon 7: Investigate & change immediately This table summarizes the data collected in this study. The comfort ratings and RULA scores were analyzed using a Wilcox Signed-Ranks test performed with a statistical software package (MINITAB). The results show significant decreases in discomfort ratings for mouse use (T= 2.99, p = .024), chair use (T= 4.95, p= .0043), keyboard use (T= 5.41, p= .0017), and monitor viewing (T= 5.66, p= .0013). No significant difference was found for phone use. An analysis of the RULA data showed that employees' RULA scores after the intervention were significantly lower than before the intervention (T= 5.47, p= 0.0016). One of the seven employees who received the new keyboard tray did not use it within the month time frame that was evaluated. Therefore, this employee was considered a control in the study, and his results are not included in the above graph of overall scores (his results are included in the individual workstation information). Next: Discussion