Background: Both low back pain (LBP) and neck pain (NP) are major occupational health problems. In the
workplace, participatory ergonomics (PE) is frequently used on musculoskeletal disorders. However, evidence on
the effectiveness of PE to prevent LBP and NP obtained from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) is scarce. This
study evaluates the process of the Stay@Work participatory ergonomics programme, including the perceived
implementation of the prioritised ergonomic measures.
Methods: This cluster-RCT was conducted at the departments of four Dutch companies (a railway transportation
company, an airline company, a steel company, and a university including its university medical hospital). Directly
after the randomisation outcome, intervention departments formed a working group that followed the steps of PE
during a six-hour working group meeting. Guided by an ergonomist, working groups identified and prioritised risk
factors for LBP and NP, and composed and prioritised ergonomic measures. Within three months after the
meeting, working groups had to implement the prioritised ergonomic measures at their department. Data on
various process components (recruitment, reach, fidelity, satisfaction, and implementation components, i.e., dose
delivered and dose received) were collected and analysed on two levels: department (i.e., working group members
from intervention departments) and participant (i.e., workers from intervention departments).
Results: A total of 19 intervention departments (n = 10 with mental workloads, n = 1 with a light physical
workload, n = 4 departments with physical and mental workloads, and n = 4 with heavy physical workloads) were
recruited for participation, and the reach among working group members who participated was high (87%).
Fidelity and satisfaction towards the PE programme rated by the working group members was good (7.3 or
higher). The same was found for the Stay@Work ergocoach training (7.5 or higher). In total, 66 ergonomic
measures were prioritised by the working groups. Altogether, 34% of all prioritised ergonomic measures were
perceived as implemented (dose delivered), while the workers at the intervention departments perceived 26% as
implemented (dose received).
Conclusions: PE can be a successful method to develop and to prioritise ergonomic measures to prevent LBP and
NP. Despite the positive rating of the PE programme the implementation of the prioritised ergonomic measures
was lower than expected.
Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN27472278