Psychosocial risks: acting upon the organisation by ergonomic intervention

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Organizational Psychology
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Psychosocial risk (PSR) factors significantly impact employee health.
• Organizational operational methods can influence the emergence of PSR factors.
• Previous interventions often focused on individual coping rather than systemic issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore acting on psychosocial risk factors through organizational operational changes.
• To investigate the link between work quality, production, and organizational structure rigidity.
• To identify and test adaptive organizational forms for managing production constraints and individual difficulties.

Main Methods:

• Ergonomic intervention within an insurance company setting.
• Analysis of operator health problems in relation to work quality and organizational structure.
• Establishment of working groups to address production difficulties.
• Testing of a revised organizational form.

Main Results:

• Operator health problems were primarily linked to an inability to produce quality work.
• Poor perceived quality, production difficulties, and organizational rigidity were interconnected.
• The new organizational form improved management of daily constraints and attention to individual needs.
• Long-term intrapsychic conflicts were reduced.

Conclusions:

• Organizational structure and operational methods are key levers for mitigating psychosocial risks.
• Enhancing work quality and flexibility can positively impact employee health and well-being.
• A more adaptive organizational design is crucial for addressing both production demands and individual employee needs.