BACKGROUND: Several observation-based risk-assessment tools have been developed in recent decades. Studies reporting their use often focus only on the user, the ergonomist. The influence of context and the attributes of the tools may also affect the use but are factors that are seldom considered. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to explore the process of risk-assessment assignments and to identify factors influencing the use of research-based observation-based risk-assessment tools among Swedish ergonomists, with a background as reg. physiotherapists, employed in Occupational Health Services (OHS). METHODS: A web-based questionnaire (n = 70) was combined with semi-structured interviews (n = 12). RESULTS: There was limited use of several observation-based risk-assessment tools. Furthermore, the results showed that ergonomics risk-assessment assignments are most commonly initiated reactively and that interventions were seldom evaluated. Factors that influence use are related both to the ergonomist and to the attributes of the tools as well as to contextual factors assigned to authorities, and internal organisations both within occupational health service companies and client companies. CONCLUSION: There was a lack of systematic approaches in ergonomics risks assessment and low use and knowledge of risk-assessment tools. This indicates that there is a need to support OHS companies in implementing systematic tools in their practice.

This longitudinal case study addresses activities used in the planning process of a new activity based flex office (A-FO), and addresses results after the relocation. The results show that several activities were used to involve employees in the planning process. Employee satisfaction and perceived performance were rated in more positive terms after the relocation than before. The company’s process can be considered as a good example of planning and design processes.

Cette étude de cas longitudinale porte sur les activités utilisées dans le processus de planification d'un nouveau bureau flexible basé sur les 'activités et aborde les résultats après le déménagement. Les résultats montrent que plusieurs activités ont été utilisées pour faire participer les employés au processus de planification. La satisfaction des employés et le rendement perçu ont été évalués comme étant plus positifs après le déménagement qu’avant ce dernier. On peut dire que le processus de l'entreprise reflète un bon exemple de planification et de processus de conception.

A common way to conduct practical risk assessments is to observe a job and report the observed long term risks for musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inter- and intra-observer reliability of ergonomists' risk assessments without the support of an explicit risk assessment method. Twenty-one experienced ergonomists assessed the risk level (low, moderate, high risk) of eight upper body regions, as well as the global risk of 10 video recorded work tasks. Intra-observer reliability was assessed by having nine of the ergonomists repeat the procedure at least three weeks after the first assessment. The ergonomists made their risk assessment based on his/her experience and knowledge. The statistical parameters of reliability included proportional agreement, kappa, linearly weighted kappa, intraclass correlation and Kendall's coefficient of concordance. The average inter-observer proportional agreement of the global risk was 53% and the corresponding weighted kappa was 0.32, indicating fair reliability. The intra-observer agreement was 61% and 0.41. This study indicates that risk assessments of the upper body, without the use of an explicit observational method, have non-acceptable reliability. It is therefore recommended to use systematic risk assessment methods to a higher degree.

Ergonomic interventions have often been studied with focus on the client company in which the intervention has been implemented and not from the perspective of the Occupational Health Service (OHS) company providing the expertise knowledge. The aim of the study was to explore factors within OHS companies which facilitate ergonomic interventions. Semi-structured interviews with twelve ergonomists employed at eight different OHS-companies in Sweden, were performed. Five main facilitators were identified as important for ergonomic interventions; having close relationships with the client, clients’ awareness of the wide-ranging competence of the ergonomist, utilization of standardized methods, specialization/industry knowledge and internal knowledge sharing.

En av företagshälsovårdens viktigaste uppgifter är att arbeta med primärpreventiva tjänster för att förebygga arbetsrelaterade ohälsa hos sina kundföretag. Det finns generellt sett lite internationell forskning om företagshälsovård och dess förebyggande arbetsmiljöarbete. Denna litteraturstudie syftar till att undersöka hur företagshälsovården arbetar som utförare av arbetsmiljöinterventioner hos olika kundföretag med inriktning på primärprevention gällande fysisk arbetsmiljö. Sju artiklar inkluderades i studien. Resultatet visar att det finns få studier där det tydligt framgår att företagshälsovården är utförare av interventionen. De inkluderade studierna visar att när ett multidisciplinärt team varit involverat samt när interventioner har skett på flera nivåer, det vill säga på organisations-, grupp- och individnivå så har effekten varit positiv. Framgångsrika arbetssätt som testats av företagshälsovården för ett primärpreventivt arbete inom fysisk arbetsmiljö har bland annat inneburit systematiska riskbedömningar och teamarbete tillsammans med kundföretaget.