Ev Innes

A clinician's guide to work-related assessments: 2 – design problems

This paper is the second in a series aimed at providing clinicians with a guide to assist them in using work-related assessments appropriately. This paper discusses the four major design problems facing clinicians using work-related assessments. These problems are: (1) a confused definition of terms; (2) confused conceptual basis; (3) separation of the individual from the context and the environment; and (4) lack of assessment of psychosocial/cognitive aspects related to work. Suggestions are provided to assist clinicians in making decisions regarding work-related assessments. Recommendations for further research to ameliorate these problems are also made. Companion papers describe the purposes of work-related assessments, and administration and interpretation problems in detail.

A clinician's guide to work-related assessments: 1 - purposes and problems.

This paper is the first of a series aimed at providing clinicians with a guide to assist them in using work-related assessments appropriately. The context of work-related assessments is described using a model. The purposes of work-related assessments are classified and discussed using the proposed model. The 10 major problems facing clinicians using work-related assessments are outlined. Companion papers describe the design, administration and interpretation problems in detail.

A clinician's guide to work-related assessments: 3 – Administration and interpretation problems

This paper is the third of a series aimed at providing clinicians with a guide to assist them in using work-related assessments appropriately. The major administration and interpretation problems facing clinicians using work-related assessments are described in detail. Administration problems are: (1) insufficient evidence of reliability and validity; and (2) potential examiner bias. Interpretation problems are: (1) inappropriate use of norm and criterion-referenced data; (2) inappropriate statistical manipulation of results; (3) difficulty in determining end-point; and (4) difficulty determining sincerity of effort. Companion papers describe the purposes of work-related assessments, and design problems in detail.

Musculoskeletal disorders in Australian dairy farming

OBJECTIVE Dairy farming is a physically demanding occupation, however, little is known about the physical demands of dairy farming tasks, other than milking. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of musculoskeletal discomfort experienced by dairy farmers in relation to their work. METHODS/PARTICIPANTS: A total of 433 dairy farmers from two Australian states (NSW and Victoria) were invited to participate in a mail-out survey (21% response rate, N=90), which covered musculoskeletal discomfort, physical workload, task frequency and muscular recovery time. RESULTS Farmers perceived that routine tasks performed repetitively caused more musculoskeletal discomfort than heavier tasks performed on a non-routine or seasonal basis. Males were more likely to perform heavier manual handling duties and tasks involving the use of machinery, whereas females performed more routine administration work. Both men and women were exposed to similar physical demands from the performance of a number of commonly reported and strenuous tasks. Reduced income, lack of staffing, deregulation, and insufficient recovery time were key factors identified by farmers to directly or indirectly limit the reduction of musculoskeletal discomfort at work. CONCLUSION Dairy farming is a diversified occupation that requires physical demands from both male and female workers. Further research is needed to investigate specific task demands and identify possible risk factors that may contribute to the future development of musculoskeletal disorders.

Women's health at work program: musculoskeletal pain experienced by women of Chinese background working on market gardens in the Sydney Basin

UNLABELLED OBJECTIVE/PARTICIPANTS: This report describes a project undertaken by three final (4th) year occupational therapy undergraduate students from the University of Sydney, Australia, in their final fieldwork placement. The project involved women from a Chinese background who worked on market gardens across the Sydney Basin. Its purpose was to identify musculoskeletal risks in the work environment and work practices of a selected group of seven Cantonese-speaking women working on market gardens in the Western Sydney region. METHODS The approaches used in the project reflected a risk management approach, and involved background research, initial interviews, task analysis, hazard identification, risk assessment, data analysis, identification of key issues, and developing recommendations, in collaboration with participants and consultation with professionals. RESULTS The key issues identified as contributing factors to musculoskeletal pain and injuries were: (1) work practices (long work hours, repetitive work); (2) biomechanical factors (repetitive and sustained work postures, poor manual handling practices) and limited training; (3) ergonomics of the equipment used; (4) fatigue. Two priority areas for intervention were identified: (1) pain management, and (2) preventative strategies (improving both the work environment and work practices). CONCLUSIONS Recommendations were made in collaboration with the women, and in consultation with health professionals.

Participation in work in Australia.

The theme of this special issue is Participation in Work in Australia. Participation is considered in its broadest sense, and has been defined as “involvement in a life situation” [10], “a taking part, as in some action or attempt” [8], and “the action or fact of having or forming part of something; the sharing of something” [9]. In the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), one of the areas covered by Activities and Participation is the major life area of work and employment [10]. This area covers both remunerative (selfemployed, full and part-time employment) and nonremunerative aspects (e.g. volunteer or charity work), and includes work preparation (apprenticeships), and acquiring, keeping and terminating a job [10]. Work can be conceptualised broadly as Productivity and School Occupations, which have been defined as “routines, tasks and sub-tasks which are done to enable a person to provide support for self, family or community through the production of goods or provision of services” (Reed, 1986, cited in [5, p. 58]). This encompasses the ICF concept of work and employment, as well as extending it to include school work. It is this view of work that is covered by the authors in this issue. “Everyday we are reminded that, for everybody, work is a defining feature of human existence. It is the means of sustaining life and of meeting basic needs. But it is also an activity through which individuals affirm their own identity, both to themselves and to those around them. It is crucial to individual choice, to the welfare of families and to the stability of societies” [7, pp. 5–6]. If people are unable to participate in work as the result of an injury, illness or disease, or due to environmental and societal factors, the impact on individuals, their families, employers, co-workers and society as a whole is profound. This issue focuses on various aspects of work participation across a wide range of areas within Australian society. “High levels of social participation and social connectedness are believed to contribute to the overall wellbeing of individuals and their communities. Opportunities for social participation and interaction may be found through participation in paid and unpaid work, friendships and participation in culture and leisure activities” [3, p. 46]. It is this range of opportunities that are examined by authors in this issue. Others consider aspects that may limit participation due to physical, cognitive, psychosocial and environmental reasons. Australia’s population in April 2009 was estimated as 21.7 million [4], already reaching the projections for 2011 and is calculated to increase to 28.2 million by 2051 [3]. As with all developed nations, Australia’s population is ageing. In 2007, people aged 65 years and over made up 13% of Australia’s population. By 2051 this proportion is projected to double, reaching 26%, and those aged 15–64 years are expected to decrease from 67% of the population in 2007, to 59% by 2051 [3]. Australia is a culturally diverse nation, with a quarter of the population born overseas [3]. Over the last two centuries, migrants have arrived from approximately 200 different countries, contributing to the social fabric of the nation. Of concern, however, is that “almost one in seven people born in countries other than Australia or main English-speaking countries reported that they had no source of support during a time of crisis” [3, p. 46]. With the ageing of Australia’s population, and the awareness of the potential impact that may occur when people retire from work, Caroline Howe, Lynda Matthews and Rob Heard, have explored the impact of retirement on the psychological health of a multicultural Australian population, comparing workers and retirees from Australian and overseas born groups. Immigration from Asia has increased dramatically, while it has decreased from the UK and Europe. In