A new study by scientists from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and a colleague supports earlier research findings from 2000 that supplementary rest breaks minimize discomfort and eyestrain among data-entry employees without impairing productivity.

NIOSH researchers followed 51 workers for eight weeks. For half of the study, participants had conventional work breaks (two breaks per day, 15 minutes each). For the other 4 weeks of the study, they had the conventional breaks along with four supplemental breaks per day, five minutes each. Discomfort and eyestrain were gauged through responses to questionnaires, and productivity through electronically recorded measures.

Key findings include:

• Participants’ ratings of discomfort and eyestrain were significantly lower with supplemental breaks. The supplementary breaks also attenuated the accumulation of discomfort during work sessions.
• Data-entry speed was significantly faster with supplementary breaks, so that work output was maintained even though 20 minutes of work were replaced by the supplementary breaks over the workday.
• The study also attempted to gauge whether stretching exercises helped to reduce discomfort. No significant differences in discomfort were observed between employees instructed to perform stretching exercises and employees not instructed to perform stretching exercises as part of the study. However, employees in the exercise group skipped the exercises during most of their breaks. Further research on exercise motivation and the effects of exercise is suggested in the paper.

Data entry is a fundamental task in today's service and information industries, and often it is a first job for high school graduates.  According to NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D., some observers have suggested that supplementary breaks may alleviate risks for work-related repetitive stress injuries, while other observers have expressed concern as to whether such breaks may adversely affect productivity. Unfortunately, there exists a dearth of scientific data to help employers and employees weigh these questions. Dr. Howard is confident the new study helps to fill that gap and demonstrates that rest breaks can have a double benefit of reducing the risk of occupational injury while helping businesses maintain productivity.

Tips to avoid eye fatigue

DuPont has been at the forefront of ergonomics and its application to the workplace since 1987.  Lisa Clayton, ergonomics expert at DuPont, suggests these specific techniques to avoid eye fatigue:

• Ensure that your computer screen is in the proper location and lighting is appropriate.
• Look away from the computer screen frequently and focus on a distant object (20 ft away).  You might have to get out of your seat, but focusing on a distant object, such as a tree viewed through a window, can reduce eyestrain. 
• Remember to blink.  When people are working at computers, they can get lost in their concentration and actually forget to blink.  Unfortunately, this means their eyes aren’t adequately bathed with tears, and can cause irritation.  Clayton shared, “I’ve even seen employees tape a note to their computers that says “Blink”.  It works!”
• Close your eyes and place your hands over your eyes.  It really does make it “darker” for your eyes and helps relieve strain and fatigue.  Do this for 30 seconds to a minute, once every two hours.
• Don’t be afraid to take a break.  They’re “recovery pauses” and important for your productivity.  Try for two 15-minute breaks away from the computer – one in the morning and one in the afternoon – plus additional 5 minute breaks every hour.  Over the years, studies have found that if people take shorter, more frequent breaks, they’re actually more productive when they go back to doing their work.