title: Personnel's health surveillance at work: effect of age, body mass index, and shift work on mental workload and work ability index.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two great changes in developed countries are taking place: populations are ageing and becoming increasingly overweight. Combination of these factors with shift work is a risk factor for work ability and mental workload that are dynamic processes which change greatly throughout an individual's work life. The aim of this study was to investigate mental workload and work ability in textile workers and to identify factors which affect work ability and mental workload.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was carried out among 194 male workers in textile industry. Employees based on their job group and work conditions have been divided into 6 categories. They completed work ability index and mental workload questionnaires during three work shifts. Body mass index (BMI) and demographic details were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the participants rated their work ability as moderate with high mental workload. The mean WAI and mental workload in age group were significant. The mean BMI was 25.5 kg/m(2) (standard deviation 4.1) and the mean age was 40.22 years. There was a statistically significant correlation between work ability index and shift work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unlike the previous study, a decrease point in WAI started in early age that may be due to life-style work and another psychological factor; on the other hand, NASA-TLX revealed high score in six subscales that can be another reason for low WAI.
authors: Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 8174-73461, Iran.
authors: Shahram
authors: S
authors: Safari
authors: Jafar
authors: J
authors: Akbari
authors: Meghdad
authors: M
authors: Kazemi
authors: Mohammad Amin
authors: MA
authors: Mououdi
authors: Behzad
authors: B
authors: Mahaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D013783:Textile Industry; D016526:Workload; D055815:Young Adult
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