Visual Display Terminal work — A perspective on long-term changes and discomforts

Abstract

A study was undertaken to investigate whether work with Visual Display Terminals (VDTs) and perceived changes in work or work equipment among VDT workers were associated with increased risks of certain discomforts. The study group consisted of respondents to questionnaires in both 1981 and 1987 among 353 office workers. Eye discomforts and probably also hand/wrist problems were in general associated with VDT work. Among the VDT workers, the risk of eye discomforts increased among those who reported increased immobility and use of keyboards. Increased keyboard use also increased the risk of hand/wrist problems. On the other hand, it appeared that new keyboards alleviated the problems in some individuals as to neck, shoulder and upper arm problems. The installment of new lighting systems was tentatively associated with increased risk of skin problems in some companies, whereas the purchase of new office furniture was associated with increased risk of neck and shoulder problems among men. Increased immobilisation and monotony during VDT work were associated with increased risk of eye discomforts, skin problems and hand/wrist problems.