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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: BACKGROUND: Task rotation is used to decrease the risk of workplace injuries and improve work satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility, benefits and challenges of implementing a task rotation schedule within an underground coalmine in NSW, Australia. METHODS: A mixed method case control pilot study with the development and implementation of a task rotation schedule for 6 months with two work crews. A questionnaire including The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, The Need for Recovery after Work Scale, and The Australian WHOQOL- BREF Australian Edition was used to survey workers at baseline, 3 and 6 months. A focus…group was completed with the intervention crew and management at the completion of the study. RESULTS: In total, twenty-seven participants completed the survey. Significant improvements in the psychological and environmental domains of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire were found in the intervention crew. Musculoskeletal pain was highest in the elbow, lower back and knee, and fatigue scores improved, across both groups. The intervention crew felt ‘mentally fresher’, ‘didn’t do the same task twice in a row’, and ‘had more task variety which made the shift go quickly’. CONCLUSION: Task rotation was positively regarded, with psychological benefits identified. Three rotations during a 9-hour shift were feasible and practical in this environment.
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Keywords: Job rotation, manual handling, work tasks
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Although it is necessary to regularly record and assess physical workloads in a workplace to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders, there is no easy to use, valid and reliable questionnaire such as the Physical Workload Questionnaire (PWQ) in Turkish. OBJECTIVE: To linguistically and culturally adapt the PWQ into Turkish, and to examine the validity and reliability of this adapted version. METHODS: One hundred twenty-six participants were recruited. All participants filled in the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. To determine test-retest reliability, all participants filled in the PWQ after a time interval of…one week. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the PWQ indices between the participants with an occupation requires less vs. higher workload (p < 0.05). The PWQ index was significantly correlated with the proximal musculoskeletal symptoms (ρ = 0.301, p < 0.05), but not significantly correlated with distal musculoskeletal symptoms (ρ = 0.121, p > 0.05). The PWQ index was significantly correlated with the ODI (ρ = 0.193, p < 0.05). The internal consistency of the PWQ was excellent (α = 0.865) and item-total correlations were acceptable. Test-retest reliability was high (ICC = 0.865). CONCLUSIONS: The PWQ is the unique valid and reliable questionnaire available in Turkish for assessing physical workload due to body posture and strenuous effort during work.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Protective workshops and sheltered employment settings have been instrumental in developing the work skills of people with disabilities, however there has been a void in the literature about its influence on the ability of individuals to find employment in the open labor market. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to explore the experiences and perceptions of people with disabilities about the development of their work skills for transitioning into the open labor market. PARTICIPANTS: Five individuals with various types of disabilities and two key informants participated in the study. METHODS: The research…study was positioned within the qualitative paradigm specifically utilizing an exploratory and descriptive research design. In order to gather data from the participants, semi structured interviews were used. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the findings of the study. Theme one, designated as “Reaching a ceiling”, reflected the barriers that the participants experienced regarding work skills development. Theme two, designated as “Enablers for growth within the workplace”, related to the enabling factors related to development of the work skills of persons with a disability (PWD). The final theme related to the meaning that PWD associated to their worker role and was designated as “A sense of universality”. CONCLUSION: The participants highlighted that they felt their coworkers in the workshops were “like family” to them and thoroughly enjoyed the work tasks and work environment, expressing specific support from their fellow workers. Through reaching their goals, engaging in their work tasks and having the sense of universality in the workplace, the workers felt that the work they participated in gave them meaning to their life. The findings of the study indicated that managers of protective workshops and sheltered employment settings should consider selecting work tasks that enable the development of skills needed in the open labour market. A work skills development system whereby PWD in these workshops could determine their own career progression is advocated.
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Keywords: Vocational rehabilitation, qualitative research, barriers and facilitators
