Effect of a Simulated Heat Wave on Physiological Strain and Labour Productivity

Leonidas G. Ioannou, Konstantinos Mantzios, Lydia Tsoutsoubi, Zoe Panagiotaki, Areti K. Kapnia, Ursa Ciuha, Lars Nybo, Andreas D. Flouris and Igor B. Mekjavic
Additional contact information
Leonidas G. Ioannou: Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Konstantinos Mantzios: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42131 Trikala, Greece
Lydia Tsoutsoubi: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42131 Trikala, Greece
Zoe Panagiotaki: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42131 Trikala, Greece
Areti K. Kapnia: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42131 Trikala, Greece
Ursa Ciuha: Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Lars Nybo: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, August Krogh Building, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Andreas D. Flouris: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42131 Trikala, Greece
Igor B. Mekjavic: Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a simulated heat-wave on the labour productivity and physiological strain experienced by workers. Methods: Seven males were confined for ten days in controlled ambient conditions. A familiarisation day was followed by three (pre, during, and post-heat-wave) 3-day periods. During each day volunteers participated in a simulated work-shift incorporating two physical activity sessions each followed by a session of assembly line task. Conditions were hot (work: 35.4 °C; rest: 26.3 °C) during, and temperate (work: 25.4 °C; rest: 22.3 °C) pre and post the simulated heat-wave. Physiological, biological, behavioural, and subjective data were collected throughout the study. Results: The simulated heat-wave undermined human capacity for work by increasing the number of mistakes committed, time spent on unplanned breaks, and the physiological strain experienced by the participants. Early adaptations were able to mitigate the observed implications on the second and third days of the heat-wave, as well as impacting positively on the post-heat-wave period. Conclusions: Here, we show for first time that a controlled simulated heat-wave increases workers’ physiological strain and reduces labour productivity on the first day, but it promotes adaptations mitigating the observed implications during the subsequent days.

Keywords: heat stress; thermal stress; hot; heat; occupation; work; assembly line; skin temperature; core temperature; heart rate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3011/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3011/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3011-:d:517209

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().