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Results for “Work Capacity Evaluation”

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PubMedDate not supplied

[Measures for age adequate adjustment of work conditions].

Within the framework of a research project on behalf of the organization "Humanisierung des Arbeitslebens" (Humanization of Working Life) we investigated under which conditions (economic, technical, organizational, and social) the places of work of both older workers with a changed performance level and handicapped workers can be modified in such a way that these employees can remain at their jobs. The goal was to find a method of employment which was geared both to performance abilities and to productivity. We also investigated the problem of how to arrange transfer jobs which fulfill the demand for qualified and productive employment, when it is no longer possible for the employees to remain in the job they have held up to then - for example, when the manufacturing process does not allow the modification of a single work place. The goal of gearing work places to the needs of older employees often fails in reality for various reasons. Especially worth mentioning are: lack of comprehensibility with regard to technical-ergonomic work aids - although there is a wide range of these available; general strategy of the firms to dismiss older workers and workers with a changed performance level; qualification deficiencies of older workers; and technical problems: i.e. in shift-working firms, when the modified job is taken over in the 2nd or 3rd shift by a worker with no health limitations. In spite of all assertions to the contrary, it has become clear that jobs for the handicapped and workers with a changed performance level can be conceived, so to speak, "in stock" as early as in the planning stage.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Physiologic and hygienic evaluation of the work of operators of mechanical milking].

Physiologic and hygienic observational data on working conditions of operators of mechanical milking at milking sites of modern milk complexes demonstrated the impact of physical load on workers' capacity for work and health status. Sanitation measures aimed at improvement of working conditions and disease prevention of operators of mechanical milking were developed.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Logistical and ergonomic transportation capacity for refuse collection workers: a work physiology field study.

In a work physiology field study, the work flow and the electrocardiogram were recorded throughout whole shifts for six male refuse (garbage) collection workers who transported and emptied 1.1 m3 refuse containers. The work rate (WR), indicated by the number of 1.1 m3 containers emptied per unit of time, and the work pulse rate (WPR) were determined in the data evaluation. The work pulse rate increases with the work rate. The functional relationship can be approximated by a linear regression function (WPR = 20.9 + 35.8.WR). The work pulse rate reaches such high values that it must be assumed that the work cannot be performed continuously throughout the whole working day. Consequently, regular breaks should be provided. When determining the necessary duration of the breaks, it was assumed that an equilibrium between fatigue and recovery should be maintained during the working day. The recovery breaks should be at least long enough for the heart rate to return to the resting level. The necessary duration of the breaks was determined on the basis of the present field study and the laboratory investigations described in the literature. A minimum duration of 10 min per working hour results from the calculations. The breaks should be taken regularly at about hourly intervals. A transportation-capacity model is provided for the planning of the deployment of refuse workers. It permits calculation of the number of 1.1 m3 containers a three-man crew, comprising the refuse collection truck driver and two loaders, can empty during one shift. Both the logistical and ergonomic transportation capacities can be determined using the model. The logistical transportation capacity (TCL) indicates the number of containers which can be emptied per shift by a crew when only criteria such as the optimal utilization of the working time are considered. The ergonomic transportation capacity (TCE) is understood as the number of containers which can be emptied per shift taking into consideration the workers' strain and the recovery breaks they require. TCE amounts to between about 140 and 160 containers per shift depending on the type of city district. TCL is higher by between 20 and 30 containers per shift. In order to meet the demand of protecting workers' health, the number of containers to be emptied per shift by a three-man crew should not exceed the ergonomic transportation capacity.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Objective assessment of spine function following industrial injury. A prospective study with comparison group and one-year follow-up.

Objective functional capacity measurement techniques were used to guide a treatment program for a group of 66 chronic back pain patients. These patients were compared with a group of 38 chronic patients who were not administered the treatment program. Outcome data were collected by telephone survey at an average 1 year follow-up. In addition, functional capacity measures were collected for treatment group patients on admission and follow-up evaluations. Results demonstrated that the functional capacity measures collected for the treatment group improved in approximately 80% of the patients. These changes were also accompanied by positive changes in psychologic measures. In addition, at 1 year follow-up, the treatment group had approximately twice the rate of patients who returned to work, relative to the comparison group. Additional surgery rates were comparable for both groups (6% in the treatment and 7% in the comparison group), but the frequency of additional health-care professional visits was substantially higher in the comparison group. The findings suggest that quantitative functional capacity measures can give objective evidence of patient physical abilities and degree of effort and can significantly guide the clinician in administering an effective treatment program.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Psychosocial job factors and return-to-work after compensated low back injury: a disability phase-specific analysis.

BACKGROUND: Job characteristics may constitute a barrier to return-to-work (RTW) after compensated disabling low back pain (LBP). This study examines the impact of psychosocial job factors on time to RTW separately during the acute and subacute/chronic disability phases. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of 433 LBP workers' compensation claimants with 1-4 years of follow-up. The association of psychosocial job factors with duration of work disability was estimated with Cox regression models, adjusting for injury history and severity, physical workload, and demographic and employment factors. RESULTS: High physical and psychological job demands and low supervisory support are each associated with about 20% lower RTW rates during all disability phases. High job control, especially control over work and rest periods, is associated with over 30% higher RTW rates, but only during the subacute/chronic disability phase starting 30 days after injury. Job satisfaction and coworker support are unrelated to time to RTW. CONCLUSIONS: Duration of work disability is associated with psychosocial job factors independent of injury severity and physical workload. The impact of these risk factors changes significantly over the course of disability.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Individual physical performance capacity with physiological and biochemical indicators of stress].

22 health male subjects were exposed by a combination of physical exercises and heat. Strain related physiological and biochemical parameters were measured. Different individual reactions were obtained under controlled conditions. In dependence on the individual performance an increased mobilisation of lactat, free fatty acids and catecholamines were found. The determination of aerob physical performance can be applied for the evaluation of working capacity.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Consistency of performance on the functional capacity assessment: static strength and dynamic endurance.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the degree of consistency in a subject's performance in physical strength and endurance. DESIGN: Thirty healthy men, aged 19 to 26 yr, were recruited to participate in protocols to assess static strength and dynamic endurance tests on their upper limbs with the Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment Primus. Retests were conducted 7 days after the initial test. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.71 to 0.97 and 0.32 to 0.90 for static and dynamic endurance strengths, respectively. These results indicated that the consistency of the subjects' performance across occasions was high for testing static strength, although it was more varied for testing endurance strength. CONCLUSIONS: Higher consistency was observed among subjects in the assessment of static strength than dynamic endurance strength. The range of motion traveled by the limb, speed of performance, and ergonomic design of attachments seemed to confound the subjects' performance on the instrument. Stringent assessment protocols, ergonomically designed hardware, and clear instructions and practice trials before the formal testing were essential to maximize the subjects' consistency of performance. The results of this study were applicable and generalized to other performance-based instruments for physical and functional capacity evaluation and work simulators.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Applied aspects of chronoergohygiene.

Chronoergohygiene defines a field of study set on optimizing the work timing compared to the desiderata of human physiology in order to improve the working conditions. Production systems follow their own laws with a timing resulting from economic, technological and natural factors; this timing could contrast with che chronological variables of the person 'involved'. Important aspects to be considered in this regard concern: a energy expense and nutrition, in relation to the mechanization and automation of the working tasks, sociocultural models, individual behaviors in eating habits; b. work performance, with particular reference to the modifications during the life-span and the rhythmic variations in the circadian period; c. toxicologic risks, considering problems of chronokinetics of the toxic agent and of 'chronoesthesia' of the body functions and apparatuses; d. work and social organization, with special reference to shift work, work pace and commuting. The research for a dynamic evaluation of the human-machine interaction in time and into forms of chronological compatibility between man and work organization should optimize industrial hygiene.

Accidents, Occupational↗