From the Editor
This issue starts the 28th year of WORK; and is devoted to the topic of occupational ergonomics. With this milestone year, and in future issues, we are adding an occupational ergonomics section to the journal. This special section will appear in four to six issues yearly and will focus on covering a variety of occupational ergonomics topics including, but not limited to: prevention of work-related musculoskeletal injuries, task analysis, work design, occupational accidents, cognitive engineering, disability management, legal issues and the modeling of physical/mental stress at work. Emphasis will be on reflection of the recent increase in health and safety in the workplace and related job redesign requirements. This issue contains 15 articles on a range of occupational ergonomics topics.
With this 28th year, it is with gratitude that I write this From the Editor and offer my thanks to Liz Auth, in her role as Assistant to the Editor, our Editorial Board, the publisher of WORK, IOS Press, in particular, Einar Fredriksson, Marion Lilley, Carry Koolbergen, Eileen Leahy, Esther Mateike, Saskia van Wijngaarden, and Nate Small and of course to our authors.
Today, I am preparing to drive to my oldest daughter’s home to celebrate a United States (U.S.) holiday, Thanksgiving Day, with my family. I am grateful to have the love and support of my family throughout these years are WORK has grown along with my three children, Laela, Joshua and Ariel; my four grandchildren, Sophie, Zachary, Liberty and Zane; to my partner, Elliot, my son-in-law Craig, daughter-in-law, Sarah, and to my beloved parents, who are no longer with us, Ruth and Larry Jacobs.
When my family comes together around the Thanksgiving Day table, besides enjoying the delicious traditional meal, each of our will share stories of gratitude. The elders of the family, Elliot and I will be interviewed and recorded by the grandchildren so we can participate in the StoryCorps’ Great Thanksgiving Listen. “The Great ThanksgivingListen is a national movement that empowers young people—and people of all ages—to create an oral history of the contemporary United States by recording an interview with an elder”. This movement supports the mission of StoryCorps (https://storycorps.org/) which “ ... is to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world”. I will share some of the oral history of our family through questions such as: “What are you proudest of? Do you have any regrets? If this was to be our last conversation, is there anything you want to say to me? Who has been the most important person in your life?” I know that I will share that one of my proudest accomplishments is being the founding editor of WORK. These meaningful conversations will be occurring around the global and then these recordings will be archived in the American Folklife Center at the U. S. Library of Congress. I hope you will enjoy listening to them and perhaps participating in your own oral history, too.
The Learn at WORK webinar series is another accomplishment for WORK which I am grateful. I hope you are enjoying listening to these recording or joining us live. Here is the 2018 schedule:
Wednesday, January 31, 2018, 1-2pmEST
Parental awareness of schoolbag carriage: A comparative study of Irish and United States parents
Sara Dockrell and Karen Jacobs
Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1069191880491268866
Wednesday, February 28, 2018, 1-2pmEST
From the past to the future: integrating work experience into the design
João Marcos Bittencourt, Francisco Moura Duarte and Pascal Béguin
Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7285376525477185537
Wednesday, March 21, 2018, 1-2pmEST
Workplace Violence and the Meaning of Work in Healthcare Workers: A phenomenological study
Josianne Lamothe
Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6573904541339253762
Wednesday, April 11, 2018,1-2pmEST
A case study detailing key considerations for implementing a telehealth approach to office ergonomics
Linda Miller
Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3289959078106673923
Wednesday, May 16, 2018, 1-2pmEST
Use of Speech Generating Devices Can Improve Perception of Qualifications for Skilled Verbal and Interactive Jobs
Steven E. Stern
Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5676727242389189889
Wednesday, June 13, 2018 1-2pmEST
Split-shift work in relation to stress, health and other psychosocial factors among bus drivers
Jonas Ihlström, Göran Kecklund and Anna Anund
Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5910367965600248322
Wednesday, July 11, 2018,1-2pmEST
A Workplace Modified Duty Program for Employees in an Oncology Center
Elpidoforos S. Soteriades
Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7829754627924088323
Wednesday, August 22, 2018, 1-2pmEST
A pilot study to precisely quantify forces applied by sonographers while scanning: A step toward reducing ergonomic injury
Dhyani Manish and Shawn Roll
Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4197487179777464065
Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 1-2pmEST
Psychosocial risks, burnout and intention to quit following the introduction of new software at work
Mouna Knani
Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5356945280898533378
Wednesday, October 24, 2018, 1-2pmEST
Occupational therapists’ experience of workplace fatigue: Issues and action
Cary A Brown, Jennifer Schell and Lisa M Pashniak
Link: To be Arranged
Wednesday, November 28, 2018, 1-2pmEST
A scoping review on smart mobile devices and physical strain
Patricia Tegtmeier
Link: To be Arranged
If you missed any of the 2017 Learn at WORK webinars, you can find the recordings of these complimentary learning experiences at the Learn at WORK YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOJalCXvSg9fPHaFFs48PuQ You can view the complete schedule on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WORKJournal2016/?fref=ts
As always, I welcome hearing from you.
With much thanks and appreciation,
