The Productivity Consequences of Two Ergonomic Interventions

Upjohn Institute Working Paper 03-95

Kelly DeRango, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
e-mail: derango@upjohninstitute.org
Ben Amick III, University of Texas Health Sciences Center
Michelle Robertson, Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety
Ted Rooney, Health and Work Outcomes
Anne Moore, School of Kinesiology and Health Science
Lianna Bazzani, Health and Work Outcomes

May 2003

JEL Classification Codes: I1, J0, J8, M5

Abstract
Pre- and post-intervention data on health outcomes, absenteeism, and productivity from a longitudinal, quasi-experimental design field study of office workers was used to evaluate the economic consequences of two ergonomic interventions. Researchers assigned individuals in the study to three groups: a group that received an ergonomically designed chair and office ergonomics training; a group that received office ergonomics training only; and a control group. The results show that while training alone has neither a statistically significant effect on health nor productivity, the chair-with-training intervention substantially reduced pain and improved productivity. Neither intervention affected sick leave hours.

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