PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND WORK ABILITY THROUGH ERGONOMICS AMONG AGING WORKERS

摘要

The objective of the present series of studies was to evaluate the effects of different programs and organizational changes ( "interventions" ) in a food factory with special emphasis on the promotion of work ability and wellbeing of aging workers. Five programs carried out during the 1990's were evaluated by controlled studies, before and after measurements as well as quasi-experimental follow-up studies. The age of the blue-collar workers (n= 21-512) ranged between 18 and 64 years and two third of them were women. The main outcome variables comprised perceived stress and strain, health, work ability, attitudes and learning. The interventions included follow-ups of changes in the production line, organization and training in manual material handling, training in teamwork and moving into a new factory. It was concluded that work ability and wellbeing of aging workers could be promoted with ergonomically measures at the work place. Education and training has a positive influence on work ability especially among the aging workers.