Ergo@Home Guideline – a Tool for Working from Home Using Information Technology, in Pandemic

ABSTRACT

Introduction: For most people, Covid-19 pandemic was a challenge regarding work. It "accelerated” the transition to online activities in many fields, where teleworking and telestudy concepts were applied, based on nowadays information technology. The aim of this work is to elaborate a guideline for teleworking and telestudy in Romania. Material and methods: A multidisciplinary team of ergonomists, architects, different health care specialists was involved. They studied and systematized the legal framework of working from home, the common and emerging risk factors identified in computing activities, their effects on health and prophylactic recommendations. Results: The guideline is structured in three parts the first is dedicated to ergonomics principles in office work, the second describes solutions for organizing home space for work using the green concept and the third approaches occupational risks, their health effects and some medical advice. The multidisciplinary approach concerning the prophylactic recommendations to teleworking is the key to maintain wellbeing and health. To prolonged sitting posture, visual and neuropsychological overload, there are added the emerging risks in the context of teleworking lack of direct relationship, home office organization, confusion between working and personal time, internet quality, increase of sedentary lifestyle and implicitly the risk of cardiovascular, metabolic and musculoskeletal diseases. Conclusions: The elaboration of a teleworking and telestudy ergonomic guideline will be useful to employees and employers, students and organizations, in order to maintain one’s health