The training program is described in detail
elsewhere (Lewis et al., 2001). Briefly, the program
was implemented in 1994 at two New Jersey
locations of a petrochemical research and development
company. The training program goals
were to teach the VDT users to evaluate and adjust
their own workstations and confer upon each user
the responsibility of maintaining an ergonomic
workstation (i.e., a self-directed intervention), with
the ultimate aim of reducing musculoskeletal
symptoms. Correct workstation posture, nonoccupational
risk factors for the MSDs, the need
to promptly seek medical attention when symptoms
first appeared, and other related materials
were covered. A total of 292 (78%) of the 373
employees who identified themselves as using a
VDT for two or more hours a day attended the
training.
2.2. Data sources
We used company insurance records to obtain
data on worker compensation costs related to the
medical treatment and lost wages for VDT-related
MSD claims for the period 1990–1998. Several
potentially compensable cases were identified soon
after the onset of symptoms, which allowed for
minimal treatment and no direct medical costs or
lost time wages to the company. We included these
claims in the analyses of number of claims filed,
but excluded them from the calculations of
average claim costs. All costs were adjusted to
1998 dollars based on the Consumer Price Index
for Medical Care (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1990–1998).
We obtained injury rate information from the
company’s OSHA 200 logs and internal injury/
illness tracking system. All employee reports or
allegations of work-related injury or illness are
evaluated to determine if they meet OSHA 200 log
reporting requirements or whether only first aid is
required, and details of all reports (e.g., job/tasks
resulting in injury) are recorded in a computerized
database. This database was searched to identify
all the MSD-related illnesses (OSHA recordable
and non-recordable illnesses combined) associated
with the VDT usage for the time period 1990–
1998.
The period 1990–1994 was defined as the preintervention
period, while 1995–1998 was the postintervention
period. The total number of claims
filed during each period was analyzed to determine
if the training possibly resulted in more employees
seeking treatment for the MSD-injuries. We also
calculated average worker compensation costs per
year and average claim cost per capita for the preand
post-intervention period. The average claim
cost per capita was calculated only for the site
where monthly data on number of employees was
readily available. For the injury data, we calculated
rates per 1000 employees for each year, as
well as the average injury rate during the pre- and
post