*8.1.3 Ergonomic*


#### **8.2 Laboral protocols**

Finally, if many cases are detected at the same office building, LS should be considered as an environmental laboral factor or office staff risk that must be evaluated by a multi-disciplinary team (medical staff, Departments of occupational health, occupational risk prevention, morphological sciences, ergonomics, and biomechanics, etc.), following some of the diverse protocols established in many cities, such as Barcelona [90], Madrid [91] Basque country [92] and other. Their main purpose is the recognition of the problem, giving behavior guidelines to technical personnel and companies, and preventing the appearance of new cases. They mainly include two sections: a medical action protocol and a technical one, which evaluates job conditions. Medical protocols should include diagnosis, clinical data and clinical examination, case follow-up, and active search for other possible causes. The technical part includes taking measurements at work offices, including electrical installations, furniture (design, materials and height, geometry of edges and collection of cables on desks, materials of chairs, and footrests), installations of all types of equipment (computers, printers, scanners, photocopiers, and telephones), type of floor (material and use of carpets), ventilation system, air conditioning and humidification, personal posture, and clothing habits. Electrical measurements must include electric and magnetic fields, electrostatic charges (in different conditions of relative humidity), as well as diverse electrical parameters (current-voltage, frequency, and resistance of grounding). Both protocols must be coordinated with the company, and once the cases have been established, all information obtained on the process and causes must be offered to the staff, establishing the necessary prevention and treatment measures indicated above.
