A laboratory study on preferred and imposed settings of a VDT workstation

Thirty trained female typists performed several consecutive l0min typing tasks on an adjustable VDT workstation. The experiments were conducted with preferred as well as with imposed settings. The body postures were determined during the typing tasks and the subjects filled out questionnaires at the end of the tasks.

The study discloses that the preferred workstation dimensions are associated with mainly 'relaxed' sensations, while imposed dimensions—even if they are similar to the mean values of preferred settings—cause an increased incidence of static load symptoms in the sense of increased tension or impairments in the neck-shoulder-arm-hand area. The preferred keyboard levels are mainly distinctly higher than those recommended in standards and brochures. A chair with a high backrest and a proper support to rest forearms and wrists are preconditions for the preferred postures at VDT workstations.