Assessing mental work-load in organizations. Reaching the goal of healthy workplaces

Abstract

Purpose
A main objective of the European Union is to obtain healthy workplaces on both physical and mental level. To reach this goal, high-quality instruments to assess mental workload at the workplace must be developed in line with international standards (e.g. the ISO 10075-1:2000, 10075-2:2000 and 10075-3:2004). We also need guidelines how to derive interventions on an organizational level. In this sense, instruments that assess mental workload at the workplace must fulfill the requirement to be a base for the development of specific interventions. The instrument “OrgFit” has been especially developed to serve this purpose.

Design/Methodology
A representative sample of 514 workers of the Austrian population filled-in the OrgFit in an online study.

Results
Factor structure as well as reliability and validity coefficients show satisfactory results. The internal consistencies show values between .75 and .91, which meets the requirement of the ISO 10075-3:2004.

Limitations
Evaluation studies are needed to analyze the effects of interventions that were developed based on the results of the OrgFit.

Research/Practical Implications
The OrgFit proves to be a valid instrument to assess mental workload and can serve as a base for developing specific interventions on an organizational level.

Originality/Value
The ISO 10075-2:2000 defines critical dimensions which have to be assessed. These dimensions are key points for reducing mental workload. The instrument OrgFit can be used for both scientific purposes and in the practical field as these dimensions could be proven.

Full text

Assessing mental work-load
in organizations.
Reaching the goal of healthy workplaces
Paul Jiménez & Anita Dunkl
Contact: Department of Psychologie, University of Graz, paul.jimenez@uni-graz.at, http://www.uni-graz.at/pslgdwww/
References
Jiménez, P. & Kallus, K.W. (in press). Recovery-Stress-Questionnaire for Work (RESTQ-Work). In: K. W. Kallus and M. Kellmann (Eds.):
The Recovery‐Stress Questionnaires: User Manual. Frankfurt: Pearson Assessment.
ISO 10075-1:2004 (2004). Ergonomic principles related to mental workload – Part 1: General terms and methods for measuring and
assessing mental workload.
ISO 10075-2:2004 (2004). Ergonomic principles related to mental workload – Part 2: Design principles.
ISO 10075-3:2004 (2004). Ergonomic principles related to mental workload – Part 3: Principles and requirements concerning methods
for measuring.
Risk assessment profile (example)
Purpose
A main objective of the European Union is to obtain healthy
workplaces on both physical and mental level. To reach this
goal, the OrgFit was developed to assess mental work-load at
the workplace in line with international standards (e.g. the ISO
10075-1:2000, 10075-2:2000 and 10075-3:2004).
Method, Results
A representative sample of 514 workers of the Austrian
population filled-in the OrgFit in an online study.
All four dimensions of the OrgFit show high correlation
coefficients with the dimensions of the RESTQ-Work
(Jiménez & Kallus, 2015), indicating high convergent validity
(stress: .44-.59 and recovery: -.32 to -.68).
See also ISO 10075-1 and ISO 10075-2
OrgFit. Criteria regarding ISO 10075-3
year
of development
2013, 2014
name and affiliation of the developer
Jimenez, Dunkl, Bramberger,
University of Graz
intended
area of measurement
mental
work-load at the workplace
precision level of the instrument
1,
for detailled assessment
theoretical basis
ISO 10075,
areas of worklife, action regulation theory
populations
for which the measurement is
intended
working
population
populations
for which the psychometric criteria
have been determined
Austrian
representative sample, N=674, N=514
psychometric properties of the instrument
Rel. >.9, Val. >.6
f. core dimensions, Obj. +, 7 levels
design of the study for determining the
psychometric properties
representative
study in Austria, controlling age, sex
, etc.;
paper
-pencil and online
tasks/conditions which have been used for
determining the validity
convergent
validity with strain etc.
duration of the work and rest periods
N.A.
requirements
/constraints concerning conditions
anonymous
procedure, requirements defined by
experts
requirements
/constraints concerning the
equipment
paper
-pencil, online
requirements/constraints concerning the training
and qualifications of the person
experts
, training course
reference standards
for populations
available
, Austria 2013, 2014, 2015
procedures/conditions to be observed in
performing the measurement
information
, participation, voluntary participation
procedures/conditions to be observed in
analysing
the data
expert
level, possibility of refering to occupations
procedures/conditions to be observed in
interpreting the data
expert
level, possibility of refering to occupations
estimate
of the effort
fill
-in questionnaire 10 minutes
response rate of the sample
N.A.
description of the development procedure
regular
evaluations, high efficiency, satisfaction
information required to fill in the checklist
criterion
for selection in table form available
Assessed dimensions Cronbach‘s Alpha and factor structure