Ergonomic and psychosocial risks related to musculoskeletal problems among Brazilian labor judges in telework during the COVID-19 pandemic

Telework Conditions, Ergonomic and Psychosocial Risks, and Musculoskeletal Problems in the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Considering the total sample, although the participants in our study rated workstations at their homes as worse in relation to face-to-face work, as was observed in other studies, 10 – 16 we were able to notice that this trend was not verified in group 1. Among the participants from this group, 5.04% rated the workstations in the company's premises as bad or very bad and only 0.39% rated the home workstation as such.…”

“…Previous studies verified lower percentages of participants with a dedicated place at their homes specifically intended for teleworking (between 23% and 45%), even in relation to group 2 in our study, and observed smaller proportions of employees interested in continuing teleworking. 5,6,24,25 Considering the total sample, although the participants in our study rated workstations at their homes as worse in relation to faceto-face work, as was observed in other studies, [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] we were able to notice that this trend was not verified in group 1. Among the participants from this group, 5.04% rated the workstations in the company's premises as bad or very bad and only 0.39% rated the home workstation as such.…”

“… 15 A number of studies that carried out a quantitative assessment of telework workstations during this period showed that approximately half of the evaluations performed pointed to ergonomic inadequacies in which immediate intervention in the workstation was suggested. 16 – 18 …”

“…15 A number of studies that carried out a quantitative assessment of telework workstations during this period showed that approximately half of the evaluations performed pointed to ergonomic inadequacies in which immediate intervention in the workstation was suggested. [16][17][18] In most of the studies, it was noticed that there was an increase in the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems after adopting telework as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, although without establishing a direct relationship with the participants' working conditions, 6,7,13,[19][20][21][22][23] whereas some others pointed out that this increase was related to environmental and ergonomics conditions in telework, such as lack of a dedicated place where the workers could concentrate for work. 10,[24][25][26] Ergonomic and environmental suitability of the workplace at home can also be related to a positive view and to the perception of the advantages of telework, as well as to productivity.…”

“…Many workers used inappropriate chairs, without any possibility of adjusting the seat or backrest, and pointed to lack of space on the work table to provide adequate support for the forearms and to the absence of adequate support for the feet 15 . A number of studies that carried out a quantitative assessment of telework workstations during this period showed that approximately half of the evaluations performed pointed to ergonomic inadequacies in which immediate intervention in the workstation was suggested 16–18 …”