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ISSN 1051-9815 (P)
ISSN 1875-9270 (E)
Impact Factor 2024: 1.7
WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation is an interdisciplinary, international journal which publishes high quality peer-reviewed manuscripts covering the entire scope of the occupation of work. The journal's subtitle has been deliberately laid out: The first goal is the prevention of illness, injury, and disability. When this goal is not achievable, the attention focuses on assessment to design client-centered intervention, rehabilitation, treatment, or controls that use scientific evidence to support best practice.
WORK occasionally publishes thematic issues, but in general, issues cover a wide range of topics such as ergonomic considerations with children, youth and students, the challenges facing an aging workforce, workplace violence, injury management, performing artists, ergonomic product evaluations, and the awareness of the political, cultural, and environmental determinants of health related to work.
Dr. Karen Jacobs, the founding editor, and her editorial board especially encourage the publication of research studies, clinical practice, case study reports, as well as personal narratives and critical reflections of lived work experiences (autoethnographic/autobiographic scholarship),
Sounding Board commentaries and
Speaking of Research articles which provide the foundation for better understanding research to facilitate knowledge dissemination.
Narrative Reflections on Occupational Transitions, a new column, is for persons who have successfully transitioned into, between, or out of occupations to tell their stories in a narrative form. With an internationally renowned editorial board,
WORK maintains high standards in the evaluation and publication of manuscripts. All manuscripts are reviewed expeditiously and published in a timely manner.
WORK prides itself on being an author-friendly journal.
WORK celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2015.
*WORK is affiliated with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)* *WORK is endorsed by the International Ergonomics Association (IEA)* *WORK gives out the yearly Cheryl Bennett Best Paper Award*
Abstract: Being ergonomics a scientific discipline based on knowledge of several areas, it is important to use education methodologies that promote critical thinking and reflective during the educational process. The article discusses the importance of interdisciplinarity in undergraduate courses in health care in particular in disciplines that address the ergonomics issue. The aspects of the introduction of new education methodologies, as well as case studies in undergraduate courses in Brazil, are discussed in this study. Based on the literature review conducted, some proposals for action in the interdisciplinary teaching of ergonomics in Physiotherapy courses are presented.
Keywords: Interdisciplinarity, Ergonomics, Undergraduate, Physical Therapy, Brazil
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0765-4790
Citation: Work,
vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4790-4794, 2012
Abstract: The aim was to evaluate work engagement (WE), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), postural deviations and to characterize musculoskeletal symptoms of federal civil servants of an institution of higher education. Methods. Twenty four women (age 40.0 ± 11.2 years, 1.6 ± 0.1m, 66.6kg ± 10.0kg) and 13 men (age 38.3 ± 10.3 years, 1.7 ± 0.1m, 84.3kg ± 19.1kg) were recruited. The Nordic Questionnaire was used to evaluate musculoskeletal symptoms and the Borg Scale for the RPE. WE was quantified by the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (vigor, dedication and absorption domains). Posture was assessed by photogrammetry and analyzed with the…Postural Assessment Software (PAS/SAPO). The independent student t test was used to verify WE and postural differences and the chi-square test to verify RPE and symptoms’ differences between genders. Results. All subjects reported musculoskeletal complaints, mainly in the low back (28.4%). Women presented more musculoskeletal complaints (67%). RPE and WE did not differ between genders, however, women presented pronounced postural deviations compared to men (angle between leg and right foot dorsum, and horizontal pelvic alignment; p<0.05). Conclusion. Findings highlight the implementation of health promotion measures, such as postural reeducation and ergonomic guidelines, with specific activities according to gender
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Abstract: During the recent decades Brazil has experienced an exponential growth in the aviation sector resulting in an increasing workforce. The aircraft maintenance industry stands out, where the workers have to handle different kind of objects. The aim of this study was to evaluate psychosocial indicators as well as musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders among aircraft maintenance workers. One hundred and one employees were evaluated (32.69 ±8.25yr, 79.8±13.4kg, and 1.75±0.07m). Musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders were assessed through the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and a standardized physical examination. The Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) were applied to…evaluate psychosocial indicators. Results of the NMQ indicate the lower back as the most affected body region. On the other hand, the physical examination has shown clinical diagnosis of shoulder disorders. Neck, upper back and ankle/foot were also reported as painful sites. Most of workers have active work-demand profile and high work engagement levels. We suggest that musculoskeletal symptoms may be related to high biomechanical demand of the tasks performed by workers, what must be further investigated.
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Abstract: In order to achieve better postures and decrease musculoskeletal risks adequate design of hand/box couplings for manual materials handling (MMH) are still needed. No studies evaluating upper limb movement thorough direct measurements during box handling in workplace were identified in the literature. In this study we describe the types of grip and movements adopted by ten workers when handling redesigned boxes with cutout handles between different heights on industrial pallets. The new handles were used by 90% of the workers through different types of grip. Electrogoniometric measurements showed relatively safe forearm and wrist movements, although elbow inadequate range of movement…was recorded. Despite the good acceptance of the cutout by workers, the new design requires extra internal space in the boxes reducing applications for this alternative of box
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Keywords: industrial handling, movement recording, electrogoniometer, work related musculoskeletal disorders, wrist
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0768-4808
Citation: Work,
vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4808-4812, 2012
Abstract: The work and life conditions have influence on the health and life quality of workers. Physically active persons can demonstrate a life style that are and affect the physical performance, psychosocial aspects and work capacity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical activity level and work capacity in different tasks characteristics, one with more physical exertion and other with more cognitive exertion. A total of 193 workers from an institution of higher education and 457 workers from a metallurgical industry participated in the current study. All participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-short) and Work Ability…Index (WAI). The results indicated that both groups were classified as having high level of physical activity while only few of them were considered sedentary (less than 27%). However, the group of metallurgical workers had greater indices (82%) than the workers from higher education institution (74%). Overall, the workers reported their work ability as moderate to excellent, suggesting that overall they are satisfied with their working and health conditions. It can be concluded that even though workers performed tasks with different demands (cognitive versus physical), they demonstrated similar level of physical activity as well as work ability.
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Keywords: Occupational Health, Physical Therapy, Work Ability
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0769-4813
Citation: Work,
vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4813-4816, 2012
Abstract: Abstract.The aim of this study was to evaluate how the fixed furniture dimensions match with students’ anthropometry and to describe head, upper back and upper limbs postures and movements. Evaluation was performed in 48 students from a Brazilian state school. Furniture dimensions were measured with metric tape, movements and postures by inclinometers (Logger Tecknologi, Åkarp, Sweden). Seat height was high for 21% and low for 36% of the students; seat length was short for 45% and long for 9% and table height was high for 53% and low for 28%. Regression analysis showed that seat/popliteal height quotient is explained by…90th percentile of upper back inclination (β=0.410) and 90th percentile of right upper arm elevation (β=−0.293). For seat/thigh length quotient the significant variables were 90th percentile of upper back velocity (β=−0.282) and 90th percentile of right upper arm elevation (β=0.410). This study showed a relationship between furniture mismatch and postural overload. When the seat height is low students increase upper back left inclination and right upper arm elevation; when the seat is short students decrease the upper back flexion velocity and increase right upper arm elevation.
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Keywords: classroom, anthropometry, children, direct measurement techniques, inclinometer
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0770-4817
Citation: Work,
vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4817-4824, 2012
Abstract: The application of ergonomics in product design is essential to its accessibility and usability. The development of manual devices should be based on ergonomic principles. Effort perception analysis is an essential approach to understand the physical and subjective aspects of the interface. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effort perception during a simulated task with different door handles by Portuguese subjects of both genders and different ages. This transversal study agreed with ethical aspects. 180 subjects of both genders pertaining to three age groups have participated. Five door handles with different shapes were evaluated. A subjective…numeric rating scale of 5 levels was used to evaluate the effort. For statistical analysis it was applied the Friedman non-parametric test. The results have showed no significant differences of effort perception in door handles “A” and “B”; “A” and “D”; and “D” and “C”. Door handle “E” presented the lowest values of all. In general, there’s an inverse relationship between the results of biomechanical studies and the effort perception of the same task activity. This shows that door handles design influence directly these two variables and can interfere in the accessibility and usability of these kinds of products.
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Keywords: ergonomic design, accessibility, usability, door handles
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0771-4825
Citation: Work,
vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4825-4829, 2012
Abstract: Work organization affects the production of a company as well as the health of employees. It is a challenge to create sustainable production systems with the least harm to the health. An observational assessment tool was developed by the NIOSH – WMSD Research Consortium and adapted by the SHARP study. The objectives were to translate this assessment tool into Brazilian Portuguese (as the Avaliação de Aspectos Organizacionais do Trabalho - AOT) and to evaluate its applicability in an industrial setting. The AOT final translated version was obtained after a consensus by the research team. Difficulties arose in applying the translated…version due to technical terms with no direct equivalents in Portuguese, nonexcluding or similar alternatives, and questions that gave room for various interpretations, besides the great complexity of the tasks performed in the sectors. Despite that, the results suggest that AOT was sensitive for discriminating differences between sectors. Nevertheless, for better application of this tool in complex industrial environments, it is necessary: training and consensus among evaluators, familiarity with organizational aspects of the occupational settings evaluated. Also for assuring the internal validity of the analysis, might be necessary, the creation of subdivisions in the sectors evaluated if the tasks vary significantly intra-sector. The present report can help to understand the difficulties inherent to the evaluation of organizational aspects on a collective level and also the possible implications related to the translation of this assessment into other languages.
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Abstract: The present study descriptively compares the need for recovery (NFR) among 128 nursing professionals (nurses) and 223 call center operators according cutoff points in the literature (45 and 50) and by means of statistical tests, and verifies the association between NFR scores and the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms. NFR was evaluated with the Need for Recovery Scale and musculoskeletal symptoms were evaluated with the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. At a 45 point cutoff, 22% of the call-center workers and 33% of the nurses were classified as fatigued; at a 50 point cutoff, 13% of the call center operators and 27% of…the nurses were classified as fatigued. The nurses had higher fatigue levels than the call center workers (p=0.015). Significant correlations were found between NFR scores and musculoskeletal symptoms reported during the previous 12 months (r=0.299, p<0.001) and 7 days (r=0.314, p<0.001). Regarding cutoff points and statistical tests, the NFR scale identified higher fatigue levels among the nurses and was demonstrated to be a useful tool for evaluating worker well-being.
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Keywords: cutoff point, fatigue scale, Brazilian workers
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0773-4838
Citation: Work,
vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4838-4842, 2012
Abstract: In this paper we discuss the possibilities of acting on psychosocial risk (PSR) factors by modifying the way in which an organisation operates. On the basis of an ergonomic intervention in an insurance company, we were able to show that the health problems observed by the operators were mainly the result of their inability to produce work of quality. Next, our analyses revealed the links between poor perceived quality, production difficulties and the rigidity of the organisational structure. After setting up working groups to deal with production difficulties, we were able to identify and test an organisational form that was…better adapted to managing day-to-day production constraints and which was ultimately better able to be attentive to individual difficulties which had given rise, in the long term, to intrapsychic conflicts.
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Keywords: organisational design, PSR, quality of work
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0774-4843
Citation: Work,
vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4843-4847, 2012
