The role of work conditions on the functional decline in senior workers in the automotive industry.

Abstract

BACKGROUND The aging of the workforce is changing, but working conditions have not changed at the same exponential growth rate for senior workers. Such a situation can compromise the worker's physical and cognitive capability, reducing the ability to perform work activities. OBJECTIVES This study aims to understand the main functional capacity changes in senior workers in the automotive industry and to determine the contribution of working conditions on the decline of the functional capacity in senior workers. METHODS To achieve the objectives of the study, a set of questionnaires (Sociodemographic Data, COPSOC, Nordic Questionnaire, and Par-Q) and a battery of 4 functional capacity tests were used. RESULTS Work conditions, namely awkward postures, force demands and material manual handling, and age, were statistically associated to the functional decline in workers. Additionally, multiple linear regression showed that height, weight, seniority, and strength have predictive value to the handgrip decline (both positions HG2 and HG5). CONCLUSION These results suggest that workers' handgrip assessment should be considered as a future measure as an indicator of strength ability in the occupational field.