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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: Women workers constitute one of the most vulnerable segments of the country's labour force. They often face different workplace health challenges than men do. They are engaged in a range of work that extends from heavy, monotonous, repetitive jobs, which are in many times experienced with low-paid and involves in long hours of work. Women's workplace health problems are frequently compounded by getting more of the same at home – the "double jeopardy" of domestic work…[1]. Specific issues to improve the workers motivation leading to enhancement of productivity and improving occupational health and safety were addressed. Context specific application of ergonomics principles were studied in the process of designing of work related equipment of local fruit processing units, as well as in tea industry, covering 180 subjects selected purposively. Ergonomic risk factors prevailed among the workers associates productivity and relevant health issues were quantified using QEC, RULA. NMQ was used to gather data on prevalence of CTDs among the workers. Pineapple peeling, tea leaves plucking were found highly labour intensive, done manually. Postures scores found were very high. WRMSDs were prevalent among the workers. Scope for ergonomic design intervention was observed to improve productivity and occupational health.
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Keywords: Fruit processing, ergonomic intervention, productivity
Abstract: Pounding of rice for the preparation of indigenous food items is a regular food processing activity in rural Assam. The traditional tool used by the rural women for pounding is called 'Dhenki'. Objectives: An attempt was made to assess physical fitness of participants, to determine physiological workload involved in pounding of rice with this traditional tool, and to ascertain muscular and postural stress involved in the activity. Participants: Twenty subjects in the age of 21–45 years…were purposively selected. Methods: A stepstool technique was adopted for assessing physical fitness of the participants. Heart rate was recorded with Polar Heart Rate Monitor (Polar Sports Tester – PE 4000) and angle of deviation in lower lumber region was measured with Dual Inclinometer during the operation. Results: The average resting heart rate values of participants was 80 b.min^{ -1} . Average working heart rate values in pounding activity was 118.18 b.min^{ -1} and average energy expenditure was 10.04 kJ/min. Physiological workload of pounding of rice on the basis of heart rate and Energy Expenditures was found to be 'Moderately Heavy'. Perceived exertion of participants in pounding activity (RPE) was rated 4.1 in 5 point scales. Conclusions: Ergonomic interventions through redesigning of traditional tool will improve work performance and enhance productivity of farm women.
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Abstract: Objective: The study was conducted to assess the physical/ergonomic exposures that may lead to musculoskeletal injuries of Pile Drivers. Participants: Pile Drivers in the Greater Boston area. Methods: A hierarchical taxonomy for pile driving work was developed with tasks and activities defined within each of seven main pile driving operations. Exposures were characterized for the pile driving work with the PATH (Posture, Activity, Tools, and Handling) method. Data on working posture were collected for three main…body parts: legs, arm and trunk. Results: A total of 8,301 observations were made on 29 Pile Drivers, on a total of 6 work sites. The lagging operation had the highest percentage of observations with non-neutral trunk (46.8%), and leg (41.0%) postures, as well as one of the lowest percentages for working on stable ground (9.0%) as observed during the lagging operation. The bracing operation had the lowest percentage for working on stable ground (0.3%). The slurry wall operation also had a low percentage of work on stable ground (6.0%). Compared to the awkward trunk and leg postures, the arm postures were less frequently observed as being awkward or non-neutral. Conclusion: The results indicate of significant exposures that could lead to musculoskeletal injuries of the back and legs for the Pile Drivers. The unstable ground conditions seemed to be one of the main concerns for this job.
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Keywords: MSDs, construction, occupational MSD exposure for Pile Drivers
Abstract: Objective: One of the main activities of the goldsmiths is Blowing Pipe. The blowpipe is to expand and shape the gold beads by means of positive pressure produced by careful, controlled oral expiration. Objective of this study was to assess the effect of ergonomic intervention on facial muscle fatigue and respiratory stress of goldsmiths to continue their work. Participants: For this current study 100 male goldsmiths were selected from the Davangere District of Karnataka. Methods: This…study used the questionnaire, Examination of Pulmonary Function, Measurement of peak expiratory flow rate and electromyography of three major facial muscles. Three primary types of ergonomic interventions were provided to the goldsmiths. Subjects were interviewed at the end of each week to ascertain intervention acceptance. From the analysis of subject's preference, the hand air pipe was selected by. Results: A large number of goldsmiths complained of respiratory symptoms in this industry. Reduced lung volumes and peak expiratory flow rates of goldsmiths was found, presumably from heavy pressure generated by using blow pipe. This work habit also increases the fatigue of facial muscles, at the end of the day. Conclusion: It was found that, by implementing the ergonomic intervention can reduce facial muscle fatigue and respiratory stress of goldsmiths.
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Abstract: Objectives: To develop a framework for evaluating the work related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). Participants: The proposed framework was tested on 15~jewellery manufacturing workers working at Chinchpokhli region in Mumbai, India and on 15 students studying in a management institute of Mumbai, India. Methods: The framework has been broken into three phases. Phase 1 – Ergonomic-risk evaluation; Phase~2 – Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) evaluation and Phase 3 – Clinical examination. Ergonomic-risk evaluation determines the…relationship between work relatedness and musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) evaluation tries to assess the presence of discomforts/disabilities in different body regions, through subjective evaluation tools. Ergonomic-risk evaluation involved QEC, PLIBEL and posture analysis by RULA. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) evaluation involved administration of self reported questionnaires. Clinical examination involved muscle grading by a physiotherapist and back strength measurement. Results: The framework suggested that ergonomic risk evaluation techniques, self reported body part questionnaires and physical measurement of physiological/biomechanical transients may have a relationship and can be used for the evaluation of work related musculoskeletal disorders. Conclusion: The proposed integrative approach will help in developing stage wise intervention strategies for work related musculoskeletal disorders.
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Abstract: Objective: The study aimed to explicate the levels of physical activity, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and the perceived quality of life in construction site managers. Participants: Twenty two site managers working at a site in National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai were selected for the study. Methods: The participants responded to Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and the World Health Organization's (WHO), Quality of Life (QOL), and General Physical Activity…(GPAQ) Questionnaires. Results: In Quality of Life (QOL), 55% of the participants fell under 'good' psychological domain, while 55% categorized their work environment as 'poor'. Among musculoskeletal problems, low back pain and upper back pain was predominantly reported by the managers. Total physical activity was observed to be 836 Metabolic Equivalent of Task-minutes/week (MET-minutes/week). Conclusion: Although the Construction managers were not involved in any kind of rigorous work at the workplace, they were observed to be suffering from musculoskeletal problems of the back. 'Poor' category of environmental domain suggested that the working conditions needed to be improved and could be a reason for their ailment.
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Keywords: Well-being, work related musculoskeletal disorders, body mass index
Abstract: Objective: The 'saree' worn by women in India and many South Asian countries is dyed using a tub, usually in small scale units employing low capital and a small number of workers. While using these tubs, workers adopt awkward postures over long periods of time which results in severe discomfort in the neck, shoulders and lower extremities. The purpose of the study was to redesign the dyeing tub using a participatory approach and to study the impact…of the newly designed tub on the reported body discomfort and rate of production. Methods: Redesigning of the dyeing tub was carried out using three parallel participative processes – (1) eliciting the views of workers who use the tub, (2) interacting with the proprietors of the small scale dyeing units (the employers) and the tub manufacturers, and (3) iterative prototype tub development based on inputs from the first two processes. These processes facilitated involvement of the stake-holders and the acceptance of change. The final prototype was tested by nine workers for a period of three months to evaluate the reduction in body discomfort and increase in rate of production (output). Results: Studies on the impact of the new tub showed a reduction in discomfort level from 'severe' to 'moderate', and a mean increase of 7.9% in the output, confirming the benefits of the participative approach to ergonomics intervention. The involvement, trust and credibility generated by the participative process facilitated the acceptance of the final design.
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Keywords: Productivity, discomfort, low back pain, neck pain
Abstract: Objectives: This study examined the rate of return to work, and to find demographic, clinical and functional factors associated with successful re-employment after in-patient rehabilitation. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional cohort study of Singaporeans aged 15 and above who underwent inpatient rehabilitation in a Singapore hospital between 2000 and 2007. Phone interviews were conducted in 2007 to 2008, via a structured questionnaire to evaluate factors of return to work. Results: Four hundred and eight patients met with the…inclusion criteria, and 123 participants completed the questionnaire. Forty-five (44.7%) participants successfully returned to work with a mean time of 7 months post-discharge. Statistical significant differences were found between the "return to work" group and "non-return to work" group based on age group (p=0.04), education level (p=0.001), pre-morbid job category (0.013) and functional status (p<0.0005) as determined by Functional Independence Measure scores. Cox regression analysis controlling the period between discharge and survey indicated that higher FIM scores and higher education level predicted successful re-employment. Conclusion: This result re-affirmed the importance of functional status to the success of return-to-work in Singapore. Further qualitative studies might be useful in exploring the social or environmental factors affecting return-to-work outcomes.
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