The Productivity Consequences of Two Ergonomic Interventions

Upjohn Institute Staff Working Paper No. 03-95

37 Pages Posted: 10 Nov 2003

See all articles by Kelly DeRango

Kelly DeRango

W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research

Ben Amick

The University of Texas Health Sciences Center - School of Public Health; Rice University - Texas Program for Society And Health; Institute for Work and Health

Michelle Robertson

Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety

Ted Rooney

Health and Work Outcomes

Anne Moore

York University - School of Kinesiology and Health Science

Lianna Bazzani

Health and Work Outcomes

Date Written: May 2003

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.

Keywords: ergonomics, productivity, health, chair, DeRango, Upjohn

JEL Classification: I1, J0, J8, M5

Suggested Citation

DeRango, Kelly and Amick, Ben and Robertson, Michelle and Rooney, Ted and Moore, Anne and Bazzani, Lianna, The Productivity Consequences of Two Ergonomic Interventions (May 2003). Upjohn Institute Staff Working Paper No. 03-95, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=429180 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.429180

Kelly DeRango (Contact Author)

W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research ( email )

300 South Westnedge Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4686
United States
269-343-5541 (Phone)
269-343-3308 (Fax)

Ben Amick

The University of Texas Health Sciences Center - School of Public Health ( email )

P.O. Box 20186
Houston, TX 77225
United States

Rice University - Texas Program for Society And Health

Houston, TX 77251
United States

Institute for Work and Health

250 Bloor Street, East
Suite 702
Toronto, Ontario M4W 1E6
Canada

Michelle Robertson

Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety ( email )

Hopkinton, MA 01748
United States

Ted Rooney

Health and Work Outcomes ( email )

47 Rossmore Road
Brunswick, ME 04011
United States

Anne Moore

York University - School of Kinesiology and Health Science ( email )

4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3
Canada

Lianna Bazzani

Health and Work Outcomes ( email )

Houston, TX 77251

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