Work pace, stress, and cumulative trauma disorders

This paper discusses the potential roles of work pace and work pressure as risk factors in the development of cumulative trauma disorders. Specifically, electromyographic (EMG) data were collected from the forearm flexor muscles of workers performing a highly repetitive task. This task had previously been identified as one that involved a high incidence of cumulative trauma disorders. Workers were asked to increase and decrease their work pace for short periods of time. The EMG data indicated that faster work paces were accompanied by higher forces. However, it was also noted that unsuccessful attempts to speedup or slowdown produced similar increases and decreases in EMG activity, indicating that speed of movement was not the only factor contributing to the changes in muscular activity. The results are discussed in relation to the stress and tension associated with work pressure caused by machine pacing, production standards, and incentive systems.