Effects of an ergonomic intervention programme on postural risk and absenteeism among municipal office workers: a pre-post study, Peru 2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70917/ijcisim-2026-5982Keywords:
ergonomic intervention, ROSA method, musculoskeletal disorders, interrupted time series, occupational safety and health, municipal government; PeruAbstract
Introduction: Ergonomic interventions in Latin-American public-sector offices are seldom evaluated quantitatively despite the high burden of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among office workers. This study assessed the effect of a three-component ergonomic programme on postural risk and MSD-related absenteeism in a Peruvian municipal office.
Methods: A pre-experimental single-group pre-post design was implemented with five office workers at the District Municipality of Chorrillos, Lima. The Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) was applied across 24 weekly observations (12 pre-intervention, 12 post-intervention). The intervention comprised workstation redesign, eight-week training, and active breaks. Segmented interrupted time series regression with Newey–West standard errors was applied; Cohen’s dz and 95% confidence intervals were reported.
Results: The proportion of incorrect postures (PPI) decreased from 86.67% to 13.33% (β₂ = −59.21, p < 0.001, R²adj = 0.90, dz = 4.13). MSD-related absenteeism (PAT) decreased from 28.15% to 16.27%, though the change was not statistically significant (β₂ = −18.29, p = 0.10, dz = 1.73). ROSA scores fell from 8 to 2.
Conclusions: The programme was associated with a large reduction in postural risk. Generalisability is limited by the small sample (n = 5 workers, 24 weekly observations) and single-site design; controlled trials with larger samples are warranted.
