Iran Occupational Health

  Background and aims : The ability of work is the basis of well-being for all of us. Many factors affect the work ability such as work and work condition, work organization and human resource. The aim of this study was to assess the work ability among car manufacturing workers and determine the relationship between the work ability index with individual characteristics and life style factors.

  Methods : The study was a descriptive cross-sectional investigation. The subjects comprised of 271 workers­ with mean age of 35 years who occupied by a car manufacturing Company. They completed the Work Ability Index Questionnaire during semi interview sessions. The job groups of Painting Shop, assembling line, office department, and technical section were studied. Statistical tests including one-way­ ANOVA, t-test, Kruskal wallis were used for analyzing the relationship between work ability index and individual characteristic as well as life style factors. To test the distribution of work ability index score categories, a chi-square test was used and finally, Spearman correlation coefficient was used in order to determine correlation between the final of work ability index score with any of questionnaire items.

  Results : The mean value of work ability index in this study was (37.67) with SD=5.87. The WAI categories were 17.71% in "excellent", 38.75% in "good", 36.16% in "moderate", and 7.4% in "poor" levels. Association between life style factors (obesity, smoking, exercise) and WAI was statistically significant (P< .0.001 ). Lower WAI was associated with increasing the age, high work experience and lower education (P<.0.001). Meanwhile, physical demand of the jobs was strongly associated with the WAI score (P<.0.001).

Conclusion : On the basis of Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, the value of work ability in current study was in good category(37-43) but, concerning the mean age (35 years) of the studied population the mean value of work ability is not appropriate. Individual characteristics, such as age and life style, are most effective factors on work abilities of the employees. Therefore, preventive programs relating to the work conditions as well as life style should be considered for improving the work ability. Some of these actions are establishing effective ergonomics evaluation and intervention programs, decreasing smoking rate, proposing appropriate diets to maintain ideal weight and functional capacity of the workers.