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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: Objective: The objective of this paper is to present a study on the assessment of the work ability of a group of aged computers workers. The study was developed with the goal of creating a decision making framework oriented towards the maintenance of the health and working ability of aged workers. Participants: Fifty computer workers participated in this study. They were administrative secretaries and computer technicians working mainly with office computers. Methods: The method used to…assess the work ability was the Work Ability Index (WAI). Results: 78% of the participants had good or excellent work ability and only 2% a poor one. The average WAI score was 40.5 (SD=5.761; min=27; max=49). This study confirms the decrease in work ability of workers while aging. The group overall work ability was slightly higher than the reference values develop by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. Conclusions: The assessment of work ability is fundamental to make age-friendly workplaces. WAI is one tool designed to perform such assessment. The results obtained could assist the early identification of situations where employees are struggling with their work ability, thus helping to prioritize ergonomic interventions devoted to improve the working conditions, and allowing the continued employment of aging workers on their current job.
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Keywords: Aging worker, aging workforce, rising of life expectancy, work ability
Abstract: This paper describes a comparative analysis of the official forms used for reporting occupational accidents within the EU-27 member states. The comparison is based on two analysis grids (coding schedule) created to that effect, which incorporate a set of evaluation criteria and an interpretation key. The results obtained in the analysis allowed for attention to be drawn to the relevant attributes of such forms in terms of their content and format/structure. It also revealed the main…similarities and differences between each country, providing a complete assessment of the 27 member states. The discussion gives account of the level of implementation of the "new" Eurostat variables within the European Statistics of Accidents at Work (ESAW). Furthermore, the study shows that certain formats (structure of information fields) appear to facilitate completeness of the information collected. It has also demonstrated that the European harmonisation process is still far from completion, although the newcomer states seem to be adjusting quickly to the process. The findings of this study may bring useful insights to national authorities and European policy-makers, or to employers/enterprises wishing to implement their internal procedures aligned with the ESAW methodology. The scientific community is another interest group, whose research relies on official statistics, preferably comparable across all countries.
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Keywords: European harmonisation, accident reporting systems, Eurostat variables, occupational accidents
Abstract: Objective: PIMEX was used to motivate workers to actively improve their working conditions. Participants: The Kooperationsstelle has applied the method in several companies across different sectors. In this article, exemplary case studies are presented. Methods: PIMEX uses video recording and monitoring of indicators by sensors and transducers attached to the workers. These register and record the part of the work process where they were exposed to risk factors and to what extent.…The observations are stored on a notebook computer and can be repeated and replayed instantly. Results: In all cases, workers started experimenting with modifying the workflow, the extraction system and its positioning, their working posture and the PPE. Modifications were tested several times and the resulting exposure differences were analysed until a satisfactory reduction was achieved. Selected records were then used for regular training sessions, which contribute to the long-term effect. Specialists within the companies were contacted at a later date and they have confirmed the long lasting effect. Conclusions: PIMEX has proved in these cases to be an excellent method for convincing employees to change their behaviour and to adhere in the long-term to the newly-evolved work processes and preventive measures.
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Keywords: Picture mixed exposure, employee behaviour, sustainable changes in behaviour
Abstract: Objective: There are several methodologies to assess the risk involved in Manual Materials Handling (MMH). The aim of this study was to identify the knowledge and use of risk assessment methods among Portuguese Health and Safety (H&S) practitioners. Participants: The study involved the participation of 331 H&S practitioners and other related prevention professionals. Method: An e-mail invitation to complete an online survey was sent to all Portuguese registered H&S practitioners. The previously…developed and validated questionnaire included three different sections: (1) company characteristics; (2) description of types of MMH tasks performed; and (3) the respondents' use of and knowledge about risk assessment methods for MMH tasks. Results: The answers obtained were collected from almost 350 companies. The characteristics of the companies showed that there is a predominance of external and internal H&S services for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) and large companies, respectively. The NIOSH equation, Key Indicator Method (KIM) and Manual Assessment Chart (MAC) were identified as the most used and recognised risk assessment methods. Conclusion: Questionnaire results show that an important number of Portuguese H&S practitioners recognise some methods but have difficulty applying them correctly. Some practitioners reported that they had never used any type of risk assessment method.
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Abstract: Twelve recently built office work stations, where jobs imply continued use of information and communication technologies, were analyzed for ergonomic risk factors. Based on a literature review of ergonomic recommendations for computer and general office work, a checklist was devised for assistance in identifying inadequate ergonomic situations, a process that was informed by pain complaints information. RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) was selected to estimate the risk of MSDs, considering the criteria of…applicability and appropriateness to the case studied. This method was applied by an occupational health and safety technician to the most critical job observed in the workplace. Criticality was estimated through observations aided by the systematic use of a checklist tailored to the specific office scenario. Recommendations for change were provided for implementation in all workplaces in the office, in order to improve work conditions, and guide the setup of a MSD prevention training program.
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Keywords: Physical ergonomics, musculoskeletal disorders, assessment of ergonomic hazards, office work
Abstract: Introduction: Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts have not been widely used to monitor workplace health and work environments. This research and effort to develop a more accurate and easy to use management control system for employee health is important from a humanistic, societal and economic standpoint, as well as complying with laws that regulate work environments. Objective: The purpose of the study is to design and discuss control charts as an early warning system for workplace health outcomes to…promote workplace health management. Another purpose is to discuss relevant factors in the concept of the Out-of-Control Action Plan (OCAP) as a response when a chart warns that the workplace process may be malfunctioning. Participants: Two Swedish organizations were selected as case study organizations: a department at a university and an elderly care operation in a municipality. Methods: This study was explorative and should be seen as a starting point in learning how to use control charts for workplace health management. Self-assessed general health and new sick-cases per employee were selected as indicators for the control charts. Results: An integrated early warning system with Cumulative Sums- and Shewhart-charts are presented to show a possible method as to how an early warning system can be structured through the use of statistical control charts. Conclusions: The conclusion of this study is that control charts, along with well-designed implementation, make up a powerful and useable managerial early-warning system which promotes workplace health and helps to prevent sickness absence.
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Keywords: Statistical Process Control, Shewhart chart, workplace health management, sickness absence, general health
Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to identify the key components of supported employment (SE) programs needed to help people with serious mental illness obtain and maintain competitive employment. Participants and methods: Via convenience sampling, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 69 employment specialists and ninety-nine (99) clients who successfully obtained employment through SE programs in three Canadian provinces. Results: The findings describe five themes important to getting a job and to keeping a job: 1) philosophy of the program,…2) programmatic SE components, 3) employment specialists' competencies (skills, attitudes, and behaviours), 4) clients' skills and characteristics, and 5) elements related to employers. Employment specialists perceived a positive attitude and a client-centered program philosophy to be important for obtaining employment, while they perceived the support offered, the frequency and length of the follow-up as essential elements for maintaining a job. Clients perceived the employment specialists' competencies (e.g., positive attitude, marketing skills) to be important components. Conclusion: These results suggest a need to update the essential components in SE programs, or to include additional SE components.
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Keywords: Critical components, serious mental illness, qualitative study
Abstract: Background: Extensive keyboarding has been associated as a risk factor for repetitive strain injuries. Modifying the slope angle may decrease the negative cumulative effects of this activity. Objective: This study investigated the kinematic effect of four keyboard modifications on wrist extension during keyboarding. Participants: 32 female college students between the age of 21 and 25, mean age of 22.4 years. Method: A Greenleaf Biomechanical Analyzer was utilized to determine the…wrist extension angles across four keyboard modifications. Results: A one way ANOVA with repeated measures revealed significant differences between all 4 test conditions for both right and left wrist extension, Wilks Lambda 0.249 F (3,29) 29.1, p=0.000 n^{2} = 0.75 for left wrist and Wilks Lambda 0.158 F (3,29) 51.6, p=0.000 n^{2} = 0.84 for the right wrist. Conclusion: The study suggests that simple modifications to a standard computer keyboard can significantly vary wrist angles during keyboarding. These findings could possibly improve worksite modification guidelines and prevent repetitive strain injuries among keyboarders.
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