Current evidence regarding the design of rest breaks for video display terminal work

Abstract

Recent students have demonstrated a daily accumulations of eye and musculoskeletal strain in video display terminal (VDT) workers which is not eliminated by the use of high quality workstations or conventional rest break scheduled (Zwahlen et al., 1984; Schleifer and Amick, 1989). These types of observations have prompted calls for limitations on the period of continuous VDT work. For example, the Swedish national Board of Occupational Safety and Health has suggested an upper limit of 1 - 2 hours of continuos VDT work. While the logic for such recommendations is substantial, there has been little empirical study of the effects of shortened work periods, or increased rest breaks, in VDT work. There is, however, an extensive literature on the design of rest break schedules in light, repetitive industrial work. This literature has been largely ignored in discussions regarding rest break design in VDT work, but is highly relevant since the tasks studied share common stressors with VDT work (e.g., constrained, static postures; the need for continuous attention).Presented below is a brief review of the literature on rest breaks in light, repetitive work and of the literature examining rest break effects in VDT/office work. This review is organized in relation to two important considerations in the design of rest breaks in VDT/office work: Break frequency and duration, and break content.