Fysisk variation och belastningsbesvär i arbetet

a necessary requirement when predicting the effect on physical
variation of combining tasks.
• Few studies deal with a changed distribution across time of different
tasks, and they almost all consider breaks in productive work:
the effect of increased break allowances or a changed distribution
of breaks across the workday. None of these initiatives appear to
have any particular effect on fatigue or discomfort. There is a lack
of studies devoted to redistribution of an individual’s current productive
tasks.
• A successful job rotation distributes total physical variation in a
work system so that physical loads vary more within individuals
and less between individuals. The average load level cannot,
however, be expected to change for individuals working in the
system, and this is not either the purpose of the job rotation.
• Very few studies actually document how much physical variation
changes for an individual taking part in a job rotation or job enlargement,
even though this is most often the major purpose of those
initiatives.
• Available studies on job rotation and job enlargement do not give
any firm support for these initiatives leading to less fatigue and
disorders. The studies are, in general, of a limited scientific quality,
they have short follow-up periods, and they do not show the outcome
for all individuals being part of reorganisations.
• There is a need for more studies of practically relevant initiatives
devoted to creating increased physical variation by changing the
contents of work or its temporal structure. The studies should
document effects on the physical work load as well as on the shortand
long-term outcomes of interest.
• There is also a need for studies addressing whether such initiatives,
for instance job rotation, will benefit all employees, or whether
particular groups, such as females, elderly or immigrants, are
discriminated when tasks are reconfigured or redistributed among
individuals.
• Thus, as of to-day, research cannot answer some of the basic
questions about physical variation at work. Which tasks can be
effectively combined into a job with increased variation so that
both long- and short-term outcomes will be beneficial? What is
the optimal temporal structure of changes between such tasks in a
short (hours, days) and long (weeks, months, years) perspective?
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