Reducing Risk Factors for Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs): The Impact of Preventive Ergonomic Training on Knowledge, Intentions, and Practices Related to Computer Use

Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) related to computer use are among the fastest-growing and most costly health and safety problems in the workplace. As the number of workers using keyboards and visual display terminals (VDTs) on the job has increased to more than million, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the number of occupational illnesses due to repeated trauma rose from 23,000 in 1981 to 281,800 in 1992, a more than tenfold increase. ] This rise is thought to be the result of several factors, including heightened awareness by both employees and employers, advances in diagnosis and improved accuracy of reporting, and the ever-accelerating pace of work, especially the increasing use of computers for performing job tasks. Employees affected by CTDs often experience substantial pain and functional impairment, while employers are affected by loss of productivity and increased costs in the form of higher medical expenses and disability payments for injured workers. 2