Iran Occupational Health

Background and aims: Monitoring workers' work ability, planning to maintain and improve the work ability, and identifying and controlling its related risk factors are of the most important issues in the field of occupational health. The object of this study was to investigate the influence of factors related to work ability among farmers.

Methods: The subjects consisted of 213 male farmers. This research examined the influence of demographic characterization, work-related factors and diseases on farmers’ work ability. Work ability was assessed using the Work Ability Index (WAI) and work-related factors were measure by Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Spearman correlation coefficient was used to employ to examine the relationship between WAI and its affecting factors.

 Results: Mean WAI score was 34.6 (SD±10.59) and it had a statistically significant relationship with age, BMI, diseases and work-related factors. The strongest correlation was found for diseases and physical work-related factors such as physical exertion (r=0.309), physical isometric loads (r=0.263), physical demands at work (r=0.322), while psychological factors showed a poorer correlation.

Conclusion: According to findings, development of preventive approaches aimed at controlling diseases, eliminating awkward postures, reducing physical isometric loads, physical exertion and physical demands at work, as well as improving psychological work environment have an important role in promotion of the farmers’ work ability.