Ergonomics knowledge and awareness among work-from-home workers in the US: Selected demographic patterns

Ergonomics awareness (EA) and knowledge (EK) among individuals play important roles in various occupational safety and health-related situations. Not knowing the best practice, or being unable to adjust for the optimal workstation, is associated with physical wellbeing issues among work-from-home employees. This study measured EA and EK among 3195 work-from-home employees in the US. For the survey sample, the mean EK was 8.1 (possible total of 16) and EA was 3.5 (scale of 1-5). However, among participants identified as Black/African American, the mean EK score was lower (7.7) compared to other racial groups. Participants between 25 and 54 years of age had higher EA than those in 18-24 and 55-64 brackets. Those working for small employers (<10 employees) demonstrated the lowest EA and EK scores. The variations in EA and EK based on demographics and employer size deserve further exploration, since such findings are not based on individual characteristics but likely on broader structural factors such as occupational stratification, unequal access to training, and variations in organizational support.