Comparing the physiological and perceptual responses of construction workers (bar benders and bar fixers) in a hot environment

• Published in: Applied ergonomics 2014-11, Vol.45 (6), p.1705-1711
• Main Authors: Wong, Del Pui-lam, Chung, Joanne Wai-yee, Chan, Albert Ping-chuen, Wong, Francis Kwan-wah, Yi, Wen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anthropometry; Applied physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Construction Industry; Construction work; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Ergonomics. Work place. Occupational physiology; Heart Rate - physiology; Heat; Heat stress; Heat Stress Disorders - etiology; Hot Temperature; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; Male; Manual workers; Maximal Voluntary Ventilation - physiology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational medicine; Occupations; Oxygen consumption; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Stress; Task Performance and Analysis; Work environment; Workloads
• ISSN: 0003-6870; 1872-9126
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2014.06.002

This study aimed to (1) quantify the respective physical workloads of bar bending and fixing; and (2) compare the physiological and perceptual responses between bar benders and bar fixers. Field studies were conducted during the summer in Hong Kong from July 2011 to August 2011 over six construction sites. Synchronized physiological, perceptual, and environmental parameters were measured from construction rebar workers. The average duration of the 39 field measurements was 151.1 ± 22.4 min under hot environment (WBGT = 31.4 ± 2.2 °C), during which physiological, perceptual and environmental parameters were synchronized. Energy expenditure of overall rebar work, bar bending, and bar fixing were 2.57, 2.26 and 2.67 Kcal/min (179, 158 and 186 W), respectively. Bar fixing induced significantly higher physiological responses in heart rate (113.6 vs. 102.3 beat/min, p