• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.356-363
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• 2017

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate which physical and psychosocial work demands were associated with excellent work ability in individuals with neck pain, and to investigate age and sex differences in these associations. Methods: The study sample was obtained from the Statistics Sweden cross-sectional Work Environment survey and consisted of workers who reported neck pain after work (N = 3,212). Results: The findings showed an association between excellent work ability and self-reported low exposure to lifting, twisted work posture, working with hands in shoulder level or higher, and leaning forward without support and combination of exposures containing these work demands. Low exposure to seated work and high demands showed a reversed association. The associations were present mainly among older workers and were generally stronger for men than for women. Conclusion: This study indicates that a lower level of physically demanding work is an important element to maintain excellent work ability, especially for the older worker with neck pain.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.71-77
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• 2010

According to the Korea National Statistical Office data in 2008, the population over ages of 65 years would possess to 10.7% whole population of Korea in 2009 denoting Korea is already in the aging society. In addition, the office also expected that Korea would enter in the aged population over 65 years: 14.3% and post-aged 20.8% society in 2019 and 2026 respectively, and which suggests that an averaged age of workers in Korean industries may increase rapidly in future. The main purpose of this study is to assess the work ability and the job stress of each age group in order to identity the influential factors on those items. To this end, Questionnaires about work ability and job stress were distributed to practitioners in shipbuilding industry and statistical analysis was performed to assess work ability and the job stress based on the responses from the practitioners.

• 한국정밀공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정밀공학회 2000년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.23-26
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• 2000

This paper descrtbcs our prlmary study for a new mncthod of recogninng materials. which is need for precision work system. This IS a study of dynarnlc characteristics of sensor. new melhod ($R_{SAI}$) has thc sensing ability of distinguishing materials. Experiment and annlysis are executed for proper dynamic scnslng condition. First. we developed advanced smart sensor Second, we develop new methods that have a sensing ability of distinguish matarialsAccording to frequency changing. mtluence of smart sensor are evaluated through new recognition Index ($R_{SAI}$) that ratioof sensing ability index. Disungush of object is cxucuted wllh RsA, method relalivcly according to liequency changing. Wecan use the RsAl for finding materids. Applfciltionr of thls method are linding abnormal condition of obicct (automanufacturing).keling ofobject (medlcal product). tobolics, safety diagnosis of structure, etc

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.129-135
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• 2014

In recent studies, construction industry workers with higher job stress and lower work ability were more likely to experience accidents at their workplace. Likewise, fatal accidents rate was higher among simple labor workers compared to technical workers. Therefore the evaluation of a worker's job stress and work ability seems to be important in preventing the occurrence of fatal accidents. To search for ways to reduce job stress and to improve work ability, the current study conducted a job stress analysis based on age, years of service, skill level, hobbies, sleep patterns, and monthly income. For this, the Korean occupational stress questionnaire short form and the Work Ability Index (WAI) developed by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) were used. In this study, SPSS 12.0K statistics program was used for statistical analysis and significance was verified by the Kruskal-Wallis test and non-parametric tests. The results of this study can be summarized as follows : (1) Simple labor workers had higher job stress and less work ability than technical workers. (2) The more experienced workers had lower job stress and higher work ability. (3) In the case of workers who slept a lot, work ability was higher and job stress was less. (4) Monthly income influenced on the job stress and work ability. (5) Job stress and work ability in accordance with the age difference was not significant.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.186-190
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• 2014

Background: Physical exercise during leisure time is known to increase physical capacity; however, the long-term effects on work ability and work strain are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 6-month physical exercise program on work ability and work strain after 6 months and 30 months, among women with menopausal symptoms at baseline. Methods: A questionnaire including questions on work ability and work strain was mailed in the beginning, at 6 months and after 30 months after the intervention to occupationally active women participating in a randomized controlled study on physical exercise and quality of life. The intervention included aerobic exercise training 4 times per week, 50 minutes per session. Work ability was measured with the Work Ability Index (WAI) and with questions about physical and mental work strain. Results: Women aged 47-62 years (N=89) who were occupationally active at baseline were included in the analyses. The increase in WAI from baseline to the end of the exercise intervention (6 months) was statistically significantly greater among the intervention group than among the control group (regression coefficient 2.08; 95% confidence interval 0.71-3.46). The difference between the groups persisted for 30 months. No significant short- or long-term effects on physical and mental work strain were found. Conclusion: A 6-month physical exercise intervention among symptomatic menopausal women had positive short-term as well as long-term effects on work ability.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.101-107
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• 2012

The statistics of industrial accident reported by ministry of Employment and Labor denoted a significant increase of musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) after 1993, and showed the higher incident rate by 71.3% over the overall worker's disorders. Also, it was expected that Korean society will become the post-aged society in 2026 with 20.8% of elderly who is over 65 years old. The reports suggest possible problems caused by the older worker known to have reduced working ability than the young counterparts. On this basis, the goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between MSDs symptoms and work ability in the shipbuilding industry. To achieve this goal, this study distributed a questionnaire for total 1,244 shipbuilding employers, and used 910 employers' reports which revealed validity for this study. The questionnaire included the MSDs symptoms report developed by the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Association(KOSHA) and the work ability index(WAI) developed by Finnish Institute of Occupational Health(FIOH). Results showed no relationship between MSDs symptoms and age, years of work and exercise. Also, the work ability was increased until 44 years old, but it was decreased after that time because of the reduced physical capacity. Meanwhile, the years of work and exercise have positive correlation with work ability. However, the results revealed significant relationships between WAI and age, years of work, task characteristics and exercise. All together, the MSDs symptoms have a close relationship with the work ability in that the work ability of workers with the MSDs symptoms was reduced. This study may suggest the needs of more efforts and attention on the MSDs prevention to increase the work ability.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.305-311
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship nursing personal and workplace system factors (work disability) and work ability index scores in Ontario, Canada. Methods: A total of 111 registered nurses were randomly selected from the total number of registered nurses on staff in the labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum areas of four northeastern Ontario hospitals. Using a stratified random design approach, 51 participants were randomly selected in four northeastern Ontario cities. Results: A total of 51 (45.9% response rate) online questionnaires were returned and another 60 (54.1% response rate) were completed using the paper format. The obstetric workforce in northeastern Ontario was predominately female (94.6%) with a mean age of 41.9 (standard deviation = 10.2). In the personal systems model, three variables: marital status (p = 0.025), respondent ethnicity (p = 0.026), and mean number of patients per shift (p = 0.049) were significantly contributed to the variance in work ability scores. In the workplace system model, job and career satisfaction (p = 0.026) had a positive influence on work ability scores, while work absenteeism (p = 0.023) demonstrated an inverse relationship with work ability scores. In the combined model, all the predictors were significantly related to work ability scores. Conclusion: Work ability is closely related to job and career satisfaction, and perceived control at work among obstetric nursing. In order to improve work ability, nurses need to work in environments that support them and allow them to be engaged in the decision-making processes.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.80-86
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• 2024

Background: The Work Ability Index (WAI) is an instrument that measures work ability. The wide dispersion of the WAI internationally has led to its adaptation for use in different countries. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the WAI. Methods: A methodological design was used over an opportunistic sample of 233 workers in the aeronautical industry in Spain. Reliability was evaluated through internal consistency. Factorial validity, known groups, and convergent validity were tested. Results: The Cronbach's alpha and item-total correlation indicated an adequate internal consistency. The confirmatory factor analysis, performed to evaluate the factorial validity, found adequate fit indices for a two-factor solution with a high correlation between the factors. Factor 1, "Subjectively estimated work ability and resources", was composed of 3 subscales and factor 2, "Ill-health-related", of 2 subscales. Subscales 4 and 6 had loading in both factors. Workers under 45 years of age obtained higher significant scores than older ones. Convergent validity was also evidenced since WAI was highly correlated with self-assessment of health status. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the WAI has shown evidence of reliability and validity in this study, supporting its use in individual and collective health surveillance by occupational health professionals. The factorial solution that was found has previously been reported in another international context. However, further research is needed to resolve the discrepancies detected in the role of some subscales between other national and international studies.

• 한국엔터테인먼트산업학회논문지
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.231-241
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• 2020

본 연구는 광주·전남·전북권 의료기관에 근무하고 있는 작업치료사의 작업능력과 삶의 질, 우울 수준을 알아보기 위하여 2020년 4월부터 동년 6월까지 설문조사를 실시하였다. 작업능력과 삶의 질, 우울 수준을 평가하기 위하여 WAI(Work Ability Index), 한국판 WHOQOL-BREF, PHQ-9(Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Korean version)를 사용하여 각 기능을 평가하였다. 연구결과, 일반적 특성에 따른 작업능력, 삶의 질, 우울 간의 모든 영역에서 통계학적으로 유의한 차이를 나타내지 않았다. 작업치료사의 작업능력과 삶의 질, 우울 간의 상관관계에서 작업능력과 삶의 질이 양의 상관관계가 나타났고, 삶의 질과 우울 간의 상관관계에선 강한 음의 상관관계가 나타났다. 이는 작업능력이 높아지면 삶의 질이 증진되고 삶의 질에 긍정적인 변화가 생긴다면 우울 수준은 낮아진다는 결과이다. 재활분야에서 중요한 역할을 수행하고 있는 작업치료사의 작업능력과 삶의 질을 향상시키고 우울을 감소시키기 위한 방안에 대해서 고려한 연구가 진행되기를 기대한다.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.79-84
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• 2011

There have been so many studies related to job stress or musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) in the shipbuilding industry. However, study of employee performance evaluation that reflect on the industrial features of the deckhouse manufacturing industry has not been established. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate workers' job stress and work ability through statistical significance tests according to age, work types, years of service, work forms and sex. For this, the study conducted a job stress test using the Korean Occupational Stress Questionnaire Short Form, and employee performance evaluations using the Work Ability Index(WAI) of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) on 536 workers in the deckhouse manufacturing industry. MINITAB statistics program was used for statistics analysis and significance was verified with the Kruskal-Wallis test, a corporate body of nonparametric statistical analysis. As a result, employee performance had significant differences, depending on age, work types, years of service and sex, and job stress also depended on the number of service year and work form. Additionally, it was found that employee performance decreased more as job stress increased.