| The purpose of this study is to determine if a relationship exists between disability claims records, age, gender, duration of employment, rates of perceived exertion, and the accuracy of self-reports of physical work demands. The participants comprised 108 part-time and full-time employees 48 women (44.4%) and 60 men (55.6%). The occupational groups represented in the participant sample included cashiers and shelf stockers (grocery store, 70%) and manufacturing line workers (plastic textiles, 29.6%).To obtain self-reports of physical work demands participants were provided with a "Physical Demands Questionnaire" which consisted of 20 physical tasks. For each task they were required to indicate the percentage of a normal work day they performed the task. The participants also identified the time, position or weight required at any one time. Job site analyses were subsequently performed by the researcher, the results of which were considered the "standard" for comparison. The validity of the self-reports was determined on the basis of the discrepancies between the results of the participant's responses to the questionnaire and the corresponding results of the job site analyses. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
