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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: Cleaning workers experience severe musculoskeletal symptoms. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper was to examine musculoskeletal symptoms in cleaners of different heights to evaluate the effects of height on working postures in the work environment (schools). METHODS: We used a three-stage method including using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to evaluate musculoskeletal symptoms, a task analysis to confirm typical cleaning tasks, and the OVAKO Working Posture Assessment System (OWAS) for posture analysis. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to evaluate the adjusted effects of individual characteristics on painful body regions, using individuals without any pain as…the reference category. RESULTS: This study found that the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms is very high for cleaners, especially in the shoulders, elbows, and lower back. Odds ratios for the accumulation of two or more risk factors were higher among men and were inversely associated with national economic indicators. The relatively high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms may stem from the multiple operations involved in cleaning tasks, such as trash collecting, floor mopping, toilet cleaning, and mirror polishing. Workers of different heights had differential work loadings for different tasks. CONCLUSIONS: This paper proposes recommendations for job adaptations and occupational safety training. Cleaners of different heights execute the typical tasks via different postures, and awkward postures often result in musculoskeletal symptoms. Cleaners should be provided with specific tools and training regarding working postures on the basis of height. These findings can be used as a reference for related operation designs and task improvements to ensure correct tool usage and safer working postures during cleaning.
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Keywords: Cleaning job, musculoskeletal symptoms, NMQ, task analysis, working posture
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Cognitive demands in the form of sustained attention are prevalent in automated manufacturing where operators undertake monitoring tasks for prolonged periods. Sustained attention tasks are stressful and could have potential health consequences for employees including contributing to Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs). OBJECTIVE: The study investigates if lowered task engagement (low task motivation/focus) is a mediator of the relationship between sustained attention and musculoskeletal complaints. METHOD: A structural equation modelling technique was used to determine if task engagement mediates the relationship between attention demand/attention supply and self-reported musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) in manufacturing employees (n = 235).…RESULTS: Study participants were 5.16 times (OR, odds ratio) more likely to have neck complaints, 7.27 (OR) times more likely to have upper back complaints and 3.9 (OR) times more likely to report lower back complaints (OR 2.05) when attention demands were high and task engagement was low. When task engagement was introduced as a mediator between attention supply and MSCs, odds ratios decreased for neck (from 1.01 to 0.60), shoulder (from 0.95 to 0.47) (p < 0.01), upper back (from 1.01 to 0.70) (p < 0.01) and lower back (from 0.94 to 0.40)* . CONCLUSION: Task engagement was a significant mediator of the relationship between attention demand and neck, upper back and lower back musculoskeletal complaints for study participants.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Assessment of local condition specific outcome measures in combination to obtain an idea about the disability status of the whole spine is a conventional method. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) are two outcome measures used together. Test re-test reliability of ODI in healthy subjects has clinical importance and the test re-test reliability of NDI may have clinical significance. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the test re-test reliability of the NDI by using long-term test re-test reliability method of ODI on healthy office workers. METHODS: Participants who have…no chronic neck pain history were included in the study. Subjects were assessed by the Turkish-NDI (e-forms) on 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 15th, 30th days. 49 (20 female, 29 male) of 106 participants (57 female, 49 male) completed the study. Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Friedman tests were used. RESULTS: The difference between median score of each day (χ = 9.275, p > 0.05) was neither statistically nor clinically significant. CONCLUSIONS: NDI has test re-test reliability in healthy subjects over a 1-month time interval and the test re-test reliability is also valid in cases where both questionnaires are used in combination in this time interval.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: In 1937, Ronald Coase published ‘The Nature of the Firm’ [1 ], addressing the question of why firms exist. He concluded that firms emerge to reduce costs of transactions. A ‘transaction’ is defined both as the action of conducting business, as well as an interaction between people. OBJECTIVE: Both senses of the term prompt the present social cybernetic analysis of the nature of the firm. Social cybernetics focuses upon the reciprocal feedback control and feedforward interactions between two or more individuals in a group or organizational setting, a process termed social tracking . METHODS: Social…cybernetic principles can be used to understand how firms establish and maintain the high levels of transactional efficiency necessary to survive and remain competitive. RESULTS: Selected examples are introduced, and subjected to social cybernetic analysis, of the types of transactions that the manager of a firm is expected to engage in regularly and with a high degree of effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: From the perspective of social cybernetics, the potential for continued market success of a firm is equated with the degree to which the fidelity of social tracking among transactional participants is developed, maintained and refined through organizational design and management.
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Keywords: Transactions, social cybernetics, organizational design and management
Abstract: BACKGROUND: In a context where preventive measures are developed via a functionalist and technological approach, the aim of this work is to set out general principles and methods for new preventive solutions that will enrich these existing measures. OBJECTIVE: We propose an approach centered on the involvement of workers at all hierarchical levels around “intermediary objects” of prevention in order to foster a collective debate. This might provide empowered workers to be actors into their own prevention of risk faced. METHODS: Observational data was coupled with chemical and physiological measurements. We developed, reworked and enriched the…notion of risk representation, which promotes the visibility and recognition of the knowledge built, developed and held by workers on their activities and on ways to protect themselves from dangers or hazards. RESULTS: Implementation of the method generates detailed knowledge of chemical risks, knowledge that is constructed by the workers. This knowledge is made possible by the experience of the body and senses, and becomes accessible via references to the domestic and professional sphere in reflexive activities. The actors get involved and make use of their individual, collective and organizational resources to propose prevention solutions CONCLUSIONS: Use of intermediate prevention objects in an “intermediate space for dialogue” allows dialogues to be produced and fostered. Ultimately, these spaces are circulating entities for the co-production of knowledge for action: to generate knowledge and innovative prevention solutions collectively.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Perioperative nurses have several high-risk tasks. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are severe problems, while preventive measures are mostly insufficient. The ‘Ergonomic patient handling card® ’ education scheme was introduced in Finland in 2009 aimed at improving both nurses’ and patients’ safety. Experiences of this multicomponent program from the care units and home care are good; the physical workload and sickness absences due to MSDs are decreasing. As the perioperative nurses’ work in operating rooms (OR) varies considerably from the work in care units, a special education scheme needed to be developed. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to plan the…‘Ergonomic patient handling card® ’ perioperative care education scheme [later pCard ] and to define competencies, skills, and knowledge levels required to perform perioperative work safely, complying with legislative requirements, OR-safety and care quality. METHODS: Using a focus group and risk assessments in the acute care hospital the most stressful tasks in ORs in Finland were defined. The planning of the pCard content was based on the risk analysis aimed at defining competencies to mitigate the physical risks and on the evaluation of two pilot courses. RESULTS: The requested, approved corrections were incorporated into the new pCard scheme. Practical training emphazises working with safe methods and the safe usage of appropriate equipment.
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