An Observational Tool to Assess Work Organizational Factors

Abstract

In a large 5-year prospective study of work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs), conducted by the SHARP Program in Washington State, an observational tool was used to assess the organization of work in twelve worksites in the health care and manufacturing industries. The tool, a two-page checklist, assessed the physical, social and temporal aspects of the work, and the global and task level job content. A comparison between industry sectors found variability. Significant associations between industry sector and both structural restraints of the task activities (p<0.0001) and pacing determinant (p<0.0001) were found. Several work organizational factors were negatively correlated including labor skill level and pacing determinant (-0.51, p<0.0001). Other work organization factors were positively correlated such as social content and pacing determinant (0.62, p<0.0001). These data will be used to investigate the relationships between physical, psychosocial, work organizational and individual factors and the risk of UEMSDs.