Compensatory rest breaks for VDT operators

Abstract

Discomfort associated with continuous VDT use can be moderated by short rest breaks at 10 or 15-min intervals. This laboratory study evaluated an alternative break administration system in which operators only received short breaks when their spontaneous rest pauses were inadequate. Undergraduate volunteer typists ( N =38 ) were assigned to one of two conditions, regimented (20-s breaks every 5 min)or compensatory (20-s breaks every 5 min if spontaneous pauses totalled less than 17 s), and entered lines of randomized upper- and lower-case characters during a 48-min work period. Mood and musculoskeletal discomfort were assessed before and after the work period. Operators also completed a questionnaire about the break system. Performance measures included keystroke rate, error rate, and correction rate (backspace use). Although the number and length of computer-administered breaks decreased in the compensatory condition, no differences in performance, mood, or acceptance of the break system were found. However, back discomfort was lower in the compensatory condition. These findings suggest that a compensatory rest break system can eliminate unnecessary task interruptions and be as effective as a regimented break schedule in ensuring that VDT operators do not perform computer work continously.