Safety Science, 177, 106574
Health|구충완
Empirical adaptation of Work/Rest schedules to physiological variability in heat response
2024International Journals
Research AreaHealth
Professor구충완
AuthorsOh, J., Chung, F., Koo, C., Castro-Lacouture, D., and Ashuri, B
Publication Year2024
Journal (Volume, Issue, Pages)Safety Science, 177, 106574
AbstractResponding to the urgent necessity for improved worker safety under rising global temperatures, this study proposes adaptive work/rest schedules tailored for varied physiological heat responses, a critical consideration in environments like construction. This study included 30 male participants in controlled chamber experiments to assess their physical attributes, body composition, and heat responses under two settings: 'Scenario I' at 30 degrees C with 40 % relative humidity, and 'Scenario II' at 37 degrees C with 70 % relative humidity. Cluster analysis was utilized, along with survival analysis targeting two primary events: 'Event I', the rise of core body temperature to or above 38 degrees C during tasks, and 'Event II', its normalization during recovery. Key findings include: (i) application of clustering techniques effectively differentiated the participants into two groups: 'Cluster I', with below-average, and 'Cluster II' with above-average body profiles; (ii) empirical evidence from this study reveals marked differences in heat stress responses between these clusters; notably, individuals in 'Cluster II' faced a significantly higher risk of experiencing 'Event I' and demonstrated slower recovery in 'Event II' compared to 'Cluster I'; (iii) this study proposed tailored adaptive work/rest schedules designed to provide a customized approach to managing heat stress, benefiting younger laborers; and (iv) compared to National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health guidelines, these schedules indicate the potential for extending work intervals and reducing rest periods, boosting operational efficiency without compromising worker safety. This paper underscores the importance of tailoring work/rest schedules to individual physiological responses to heat stress, providing essential insights for labor management in challenging conditions.
Occupational Health and SafetyHeat StressPhysiological VariabilityWork/Rest Schedule