Ergonomic analysis of office furniture used in hospitals: The case of a pubilic hospital in Trabzon

This study was conducted to examine the ergonomic conditions of hospital employees related to office furniture and the work environment, their impact on employee satisfaction, and their relationship with musculoskeletal disorders. The study, which included participants from different job types, age groups, and experience levels, conducted a multidimensional analysis of employees' ergonomic working conditions and physical complaints. The surveys used in the research were applied to 425 personnel working in Akçaabat Haçkalı Baba State Hospital via face-to-face survey method. 400 of the applied surveys were included in the scope of the research. As a result, it shows that a significant portion of office furniture is ergonomically inadequate; in particular, the lack of critical features such as desk height adjustment, foot support, keyboard and mouse wrist support, lumbar support and headrest have a significant negative impact on employees. Demographic and working condition variables such as gender, age, type of task, working hours, and sitting time have been found to be determinants of both ergonomic satisfaction and musculoskeletal disorders. The majority of employees reported back, waist, neck, shoulder, and eye discomfort, as well as general fatigue and exhaustion. Female employees, nurse and those working in high-workload units, and individuals with less experience exhibited higher levels of complaints. Additionally, irregular breaks and inadequate seating arrangements were identified as significant factors contributing to musculoskeletal complaints. Overall, the study reveals that hospital workers are highly exposed to ergonomic risks and that existing office furniture fails to meet their anthropometric and biomechanical needs in many respects.