Ergonomic risks and musculoskeletal symptoms in Instituto Federal Catarinense administrative technicians during telework in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate musculoskeletal symptoms and ergonomic risks in telework environments of administrative technicians at Instituto Federal Catarinense. Participated in 142 administrative technicians who answered an online questionnaire about sociodemographic information, task performance, work environment and musculoskeletal pain. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression separately for each outcome, using pain in the neck, right shoulder and lumbar spine as dependent variables. The prevalence of pain among administrative technicians was 92.7% and the most frequent regions were the neck, lumbar spine and right shoulder. The main ergonomic risks were: mental overload (stress), inadequate work table, monitor and work chair, lack of guidance on ergonomic risks and adaptations in the work environment. An association was observed between neck pain and professors who presented greater mental overload (stress), did not do physical activity, did not have the table at elbow level, had no space to support their forearms and used the touchpad, pain in the right shoulder and teachers who had no space to support their forearms and used the touchpad. Still, pain in the lumbar spine was associated with the group of women who did not support their feet, who did not have the table at the elbow level, the chair did not have lumbar support and upholstery and presented greater mental overload (stress). It is important for the institution to provide adequate equipment and furniture and to carry out training on the ergonomic risks present at work.