Summary
Work in health care units is associated with considerable physical strain and many musculoskeletal complaints. Most investigations have concentrated on the work of general hospital nurses; little is known about the physical stress load on other health care workers. We therefore carried out an ergonomic study amongst operating room staff in order to (i) determine the work (posture) stress load on this particular group of health care workers and the effect of static posture on this stress, (ii) identify activities involving poor work postures, and (iii) determine differences between specialities in regard to work posture stress load. The work postures and related work activities of four different groups of staff in operating rooms (surgeons, assistant anaesthesists, instrumentation nurses and circulating nurses) were recorded and evaluated using the specified Ovako Working posture Analysing System (OWAS). Observation during the course of 18 daily surgical programmes (total number of observations: 3714) in the specialities general surgery and ear-nose-throat (ENT) surgery revealed that the workload according to OWAS for circulating nurses and assistant anaesthesists was not harmful. Some work postures seen among instrumentation nurses and surgeons, however, need improvement. The work posture stress load in these groups is mainly due to the high prevalence of static work postures during the activities ‘surgery” (surgeons) and “assisting surgery” (instrumentation nurses). Significant differences in ergonomic stress load were observed between general surgeons and ENT surgeons. This survey in operating theatres relates work postures to basic activities and can be used as a starting point from which to improve work conditions in order to reduce or eliminate physical complaints among operating room staff.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arad D, Ryan MD (1986) The incidence and prevalence in nurses of low backpain: a definitive survey exposes the hazards. Aust Nurs J 1:44–48
Buckle PW (1987) Epidemiological aspects of backpain within the nursing profession. Int J Nuts Stud 4:319–324
Grandjean E, Hunting W (1977) Ergonomics of posture — review of various problems of standing and sitting posture. Appl Ergonom 8(3):135–140
Hettinger T (1985) Occupational hazards associated with diseases of the skeletal system. Ergonomics 28(1):69–75
Howie C (1982) Oh! my back! Nurs Times 17:1937–1938
Kant IJ, Notermans JHV, Borm PJA (1990) Observations of working postures in garages using the Ovako Working posture Analysing System (OWAS) and consequent workload reduction recommendations. Ergonomics 33 (2):209–220
Karhu O, Kansi P, Kuorinka I (1977) Correcting working postures in industry. A practical method for analysis. Appl Ergonom 8(4):199–201
Karhu O, Harkönen R, Sorvali P, Vepsalainen P (1981) Observing working postures in industry: examples of OWAS application. Appl Ergonom 12 (1):13–17
Monod H (1985) Contractility of muscle during prolonged static and repetitive dynamic activity. Ergonomics 28(1):81–89
Owen BD (1985) The lifting process and back injury in hospital nursing personnel. West J Nuts Res 7:445–459
Perrot JW (1961) Anatomical factors in occupational trauma. Med J Aust 3:73–82
Rohmert von W, Löwenthal I, Rükert A (1988) Körperhaltungsstudie bei Lade- and Palettierungstdtigkeiten auf einem Grossflughafen. Arbeitsmed Sozialmed Präventivmed 23:91–96
Scholey M (1983) Back stress: the effect of training nurses to lift patients in a clinical situation. Int J Nuts Stud 1:1–13
Skovron ML (1987) Work organisation and low backpain in nursing personnel. Ergonomics 30:359–366
Stoffert von G (1985) Analyse und Einstufung von Körperhaltungen bei der Arbeit nach der OWAS Methode. Z Arbeitswiss 39:31–38
Smulders PGW (1985) Arbeidssituaties en bedrijfsgezondheidszorg in ziekenhuizen. Report, Nederlands Instituut voor Preventieve Geneeskunde. NIPG, Leiden (in Dutch)
Stilma J (1982) Het signaleren van fysieke belasting in de verpleging en maatregelen ter bestrijding van overbelasting, Amsterdam (in Dutch)
Stubbs DA et al (1981) Backpain research. Nurs Times 14:857–858
Stubbs DA et al (1983) Backpain in the nursing profession I and II. Ergonomics 26:755–765; 767-779
Wright B (1981) Lifting and moving patients (2. Training and management). Nurse Times 18:2025–2028
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kant, I.J., de Jong, L.C.G.M., van Rijssen-Moll, M. et al. A survey of static and dynamic work postures of operating room staff. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 63, 423–428 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386939
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386939