Inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for office workers

Objectives: To establish the inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for computer workers. Methods: A 37-item (38-item if a laptop was part of the workstation) comprehensive observational ergonomics assessment checklist comparable to government guidelines and...

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Main Authors: Pereira, M., Straker, Leon, Comans, T., Johnston, V.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13211
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author Pereira, M.
Straker, Leon
Comans, T.
Johnston, V.
author_facet Pereira, M.
Straker, Leon
Comans, T.
Johnston, V.
author_sort Pereira, M.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Objectives: To establish the inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for computer workers. Methods: A 37-item (38-item if a laptop was part of the workstation) comprehensive observational ergonomics assessment checklist comparable to government guidelines and up to date with empirical evidence was developed. Two trained practitioners assessed full-time office workers performing their usual computer-based work and evaluated the suitability of workstations used. Practitioners assessed each participant consecutively. The order of assessors was randomised, and the second assessor was blinded to the findings of the first. Unadjusted kappa coefficients between the raters were obtained for the overall checklist and subsections that were formed from question-items relevant to specific workstation equipment. Results: Twenty-seven office workers were recruited. The inter-rater reliability between two trained practitioners achieved moderate to good reliability for all except one checklist component. Conclusions: This checklist has mostly moderate to good reliability between two trained practitioners. Practitioner Summary: This reliable ergonomics assessment checklist for computer workers was designed using accessible government guidelines and supplemented with up-to-date evidence. Employers in Queensland (Australia) can fulfil legislative requirements by using this reliable checklist to identify and subsequently address potential risk factors for work-related injury to provide a safe working environment.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-132112017-09-13T15:35:12Z Inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for office workers Pereira, M. Straker, Leon Comans, T. Johnston, V. Objectives: To establish the inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for computer workers. Methods: A 37-item (38-item if a laptop was part of the workstation) comprehensive observational ergonomics assessment checklist comparable to government guidelines and up to date with empirical evidence was developed. Two trained practitioners assessed full-time office workers performing their usual computer-based work and evaluated the suitability of workstations used. Practitioners assessed each participant consecutively. The order of assessors was randomised, and the second assessor was blinded to the findings of the first. Unadjusted kappa coefficients between the raters were obtained for the overall checklist and subsections that were formed from question-items relevant to specific workstation equipment. Results: Twenty-seven office workers were recruited. The inter-rater reliability between two trained practitioners achieved moderate to good reliability for all except one checklist component. Conclusions: This checklist has mostly moderate to good reliability between two trained practitioners. Practitioner Summary: This reliable ergonomics assessment checklist for computer workers was designed using accessible government guidelines and supplemented with up-to-date evidence. Employers in Queensland (Australia) can fulfil legislative requirements by using this reliable checklist to identify and subsequently address potential risk factors for work-related injury to provide a safe working environment. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13211 10.1080/00140139.2016.1157215 Taylor & Francis restricted
spellingShingle Pereira, M.
Straker, Leon
Comans, T.
Johnston, V.
Inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for office workers
title Inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for office workers
title_full Inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for office workers
title_fullStr Inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for office workers
title_full_unstemmed Inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for office workers
title_short Inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for office workers
title_sort inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for office workers
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13211