Journal of North Khorasan

Abstract The work ability has been defined as the degree to which a worker is physically and mentally able to cope with the demands at work. Finnish researchers have constructed a questionnaire-based method, the Work ability Index (WAI), to operationalize the concept of work ability. Based on this questionnaire, the workers’ final index scores ranges from 7-49, and is divided into four work ability categories as: poor (7-28 points), moderate (28-36 points), good (37-43 points), and excellent (44-49 points). WAI has been promoted in recent years as a valuable tool in occupational health programs to measure objectively the work demand and ability to work among workers. This index could be used for evaluation of occupational intervention and identify workers who are at risk for work related disabilities.