This publication is a collection of selected papers from the 3rd International Symposium on Work Ability Promotion of Work Ability Towards a Productive Aging.

It addresses the Work Ability Index (WAI) as an index for evaluating work ability, developed by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health as a tool for evaluating work ability of workers. The ICOH SC for Aging and Work has promoted the use of this index through international conferences, publications and other means and by constructing an international database based on this index. As a result, today the WAI is used in 25 languages. WAI is becoming an international and multi-cultural technique.

This book is a collection of papers that discuss, from a variety of angles, the goal of developing a truly international standard tool that can be used in common internationally, taking into account differences in circumstances among countries, striving towards a common guideline that exceeds national and regional boundaries and can be used for the diagnostic evaluation of work ability and employability.

Improvements in health care and quality of life in recent years have led to a marked aging of the world's population, especially in well-developed regions. In the near future, this problem will spread to developing countries. The growing need to promote the health and function of aging workers presents new challenges as well as new opportunities. This book examine methods for diagnosing and evaluating work ability/employability in response to the changing capacity of employment. Derived from a Conference on Aging and Work, held in Japan in September 2001, the book examines issues addressed by occupational health professionals to improve the work ability of elderly employees, and discusses measures to promote their employment. Aging and Work will be of particular interest to professionals and students in the fields of occupational health, ergonomics, mechanical engineering, work physiology and industrial psychology.

Improvements in health care and quality of life in recent years have led to a marked aging of the world's population, especially in well-developed regions. In the near future, this problem will spread to developing countries. The growing need to promote the health and function of aging workers not only presents new challenges, but also provides exciting new opportunities.
The chapters in this book examine methods for diagnosing and evaluating work ability/employability in response to the changing capacity of employment. They set out the issues addressed by occupational health professionals to improve the work ability of elderly employees, and discuss measures to promote their employment. The book derives from a Conference on Aging and Work, held in Japan in September 2001. It will be of particular interest to professionals and students in the fields of occupational health, ergonomics, mechanical engineering, work physiology and industrial psychology.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203218558

The term "Human Engineering" was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century and was renamed "Human Factors" after World War II. It continous to develop to this day. After it spread to Europe, interest in the subject increased further and was renamed "Ergonomics" in England. Ergonomics is now starting to flourish in East Asia. The East Asian form of ergonomics is similar to when Japan first introduced human engineering in 1919 soon after it was born in America and quickly applied this method to the field of occupational safety and health to implement ergonomics research and practice unique to Japan. This book covers ergonomics research in East Asia and also some cutting edge ergonomics research throughout the world. It consists of 56 contributions carefully selected from those presented at the meeting "Ergonomic Trends from the East", held in Japan, November 2008. Discussions were held regarding a road map outlining how ergonomics activities in East Asia should progress, as well as the ideal form of a practical standard for qualifications in the East Asian conglomeration. The book will be useful for research on East Asian ergonomics in the future.