Body Part Discomfort Reported by Legal Secretaries and Word Processors before and after Implementation of Mandatory Typing Breaks

Abstract

Body part discomfort surveys were distributed to 60 legal secretaries, 10 administrative clerks and 10 word processors employed in a large law firm; 15% of the employees in each classification. Surveys were distributed before and 4 weeks after the implementation of mandatory typing breaks. Results indicated that changes in discomfort levels reported for wrists, hands and fingers were not statistically significant. There was an increase in reported discomfort in the lower arms and attributable to a typing skills re-training program. Increased discomfort in the legs, feet and lower back was attributed to the use of adjustable chairs at fixed-height workstations. Reduction in eye, neck and shoulder discomfort was statistically significant. Mandatory typing breaks alone cannot and will not relieve all discomfort associated with highly-intensive computer interactive activity. The introduction of typing training and adjustable chairs will not overcome the restrictions of fixed-height worksurfaces.