DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

A Study on Office Environment Satisfaction and Worker's Subjective Symptoms

  • Jeong, Byung Yong (Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Hansung University) ;
  • Shin, Dong Seok (Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Hansung University) ;
  • Park, Myoung Hwan (Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Hansung University)
  • Received : 2015.03.22
  • Accepted : 2015.04.06
  • Published : 2015.06.30

Abstract

Objective:This study aims to investigate the correlation between office environment satisfaction levels and workers' subjective symptoms by conducting surveys asking office workers to state their subjective symptoms and office satisfaction levels. Background: The increased number of office workers and their work hours have led to new understandings of the importance of office environments including its temperature, humidity, noise levels, lighting, space arrangements, and quality of air. Method: Specific details on office work, office environment, office space satisfaction levels, workplace related symptoms, absence from work, due to workplace-related symptoms, were analyzed based on the survey answers given by 451 office workers who were the subjects of this research. Results: Office workers showed different characteristics of subjective symptoms depending on their gender, age, work experience, and time spent resting and on computers. Also, differences in symptoms were found for workers with different satisfaction levels for office environment (temperature, humidity, noise levels, quality of air, lighting) and office space arrangements (location of monitors, area and display of office space, chairs and desks). Conclusion and Application: Relationship between workers' satisfaction levels with the office environment and their subjective symptoms is expected to be serve as essential data for systematic management of the workplace.

Keywords

References

  1. Baik, S.W., Jeong, B.Y. and Shin, D.S., Worker-Centered Design for Working Area in the Electronic Industry, Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea, 33(3), 229-239, 2014. https://doi.org/10.5143/JESK.2014.33.3.229
  2. Burge, P.S., Sick building syndrome. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 61(2), 185-190, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2003.008813
  3. Burge, S., Hedge, A., Wilson, S., Bass, J.H. and Robertson, A., Sick building syndrome: a study of 4373 office workers, Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 31(4A), 493-504, 1987. https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/31.4A.493
  4. Jaakkola, M.S. and Jaakkola, J.J., Office equipment and supplies: A modern occupational health concern?, American Journal of Epidemiology, 150(11), 1223-1228, 1999. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009949
  5. Jaakkola, M.S., Yang, L., Ieromnimon, A. and Jaakkola, J.J., Office work exposures and respiratory and sick building syndrome symptoms, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 64(3), 178-184, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2005.024596
  6. Jeong, B.Y., Modern Work Management, Minyoungsa, 2015.
  7. Jeong, B.Y. and Yoon, A., Ergonomics of Office Seating and Postures, Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea, 33(2), 167-174, 2014. https://doi.org/10.5143/JESK.2014.33.2.167
  8. Jeong, B.Y. and Shin, D.S., Workplace Universal Design for the Older Worker: Current Issues and Future Directions, Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea, 33(5), 365-376, 2014. https://doi.org/10.5143/JESK.2014.33.5.365
  9. Jeong, S., Lee, S.Y., Eu, S.M. Kim D.H. and Lee, E.H., Study on the Environmental Factors and Symptoms of VDT Syndrome, Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society, 14(4), 65-69, 2009.
  10. Kubo, T., Mizoue, T., Ide, R., Tokui, N., Fujino, Y., Minh, P.T., Shirane, K., Matsumoto, T. and Yoshimura, T., Visual display terminal work and sick building syndrome-the role of psychosocial distress in the relationship, Journal of Occupational Health, 48, 107- 112, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.48.107
  11. Kwon, K.W. and Park, J.S., Cost Benefit Analysis of Improved Indoor Air Quality in Office Buildings, Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea, 23(10), 203-212, 2007.
  12. Li, D.W. and Yang, C.S., Fungal contamination as a major contributor to sick building syndrome, Advances in Applied Microbiology, 55, 31-112, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2164(04)55002-5
  13. Passarelli, G.R., Sick building syndrome: An overview to raise awareness, Journal of Building Appraisal, 5, 55-66, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1057/jba.2009.20
  14. Reijula, K. and Sundman-Digert, C., Assessment of indoor air problems at work with a questionnaire, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 61, 33-38, 2004.
  15. Sim, M.J. and Lee, Y.S., A study on the VDT syndrome and relating work factors of office workers, Journal of Korean Society for Health Education and Promotion, 25(3), 95-109, 2008.
  16. Stenberg, B. and Wall, S., Why do women report 'sick building symptoms' more often than men?, Social Science & Medicine, 40(4), 491-502, 1995. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(94)E0104-Z

Cited by

  1. Office Environment and Musculoskeletal Complaints of Office Workers vol.34, pp.6, 2015, https://doi.org/10.5143/JESK.2015.34.6.609