Search

This study recruited 14 industrial workers to examine the effects of carrying handles, postures, materials and distances on maximum acceptable weights of carrying (MAWC), and resulting heart rate and body rating of perceived exertion (RPE) for a 20 min intensive carrying task. This study showed that MAWC of carrying with bar handles, carrying with hands-and-body posture, solid materials and 4 m distance were significantly higher than that of carrying with groove handles, carrying with hands posture, liquid materials and 8 m distance, respectively. The resulting heart rates while carrying MAWCs of groove handles, hands-and-body carrying posture, solid materials and 4 m distance were lower than the resulting heart rates while carrying MAWCs of bar handles, hands carrying posture, liquid materials and 8 m distance, respectively. Most pair levels of independent variables resulted in similar body's RPEs except for the pair levels of carrying distance.

For decades, job design and redesign have been viewed by the field of organisational behaviour as factors that influence employees' job psychological statuses and job outcomes. As such, this study thoroughly examines the job characteristics model (JCM) – including the constructs of core job characteristics, psychological statuses, individual growth needs and work outcomes – with regard to pharmacists, based on the theoretical framework of JCM. Two hundred ninety-eight pharmacists responded to mailed surveys. Applying structural equation modelling (SEM), the results partially verified JCM especially with respect to the pathway of job content – characterised as task variety, integrity and significance – to the experienced meaningfulness of work, as well as to their work outcomes, including higher internal work motivation, work performance quality, work satisfaction and reduced intentions/desires to quit. We anticipate that pharmacy managers could appropriately manipulate the job tasks of pharmacists, as well as to assist and identify possible adverse side effects derived from pharmacists' work climates, as a means to generate more favourable and effective work outcomes.