The Relationship Between Work Ability and Cognitive Failures Among Technical Workers in Small-Scale Enterprises

Background: Work ability and cognitive failures are critical factors influencing employee performance and safety in small industrial enterprises, where operational demands often intersect with limited resources. Objective: This study examined the relationship between work ability and cognitive failures among workers in small-scale industrial enterprises, while also assessing the influence of key demographic and occupational variables on both constructs. Methods: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with workers from small industrial enterprises in Eghlid. Data were collected using validated questionnaires to record demographic/occupational information, work ability, and cognitive failures. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS (version ۲۴) using Spearman’s rank-order correlation and descriptive statistics. Results: Scores for work ability and cognitive failures showed significant variation based on several factors: marital status, age, work experience, education level, sleep disorders, body mass index, and anxiety. Although cognitive failure scores differed across various job types, no significant occupational variation was found in work ability scores. The highest mean work ability score was observed among lathe operators, while welders reported the highest mean cognitive failure score. The analysis confirmed a significant inverse relationship, where higher work ability was associated with fewer cognitive failures. Conclusion: Enhanced work ability correlates with reduced cognitive failures in small industry workers. Modifiable factors such as sleep quality, anxiety levels, and BMI management were identified as influential. Implementing targeted workplace wellness programs focusing on these areas is recommended to improve work ability, minimize cognitive errors, and enhance occupational safety within this sector.

کلیدواژه ها:

Work Ability ، Cognitive Failures ، Small Industrial Enterprises