Summary
Published in Applied Ergonomics 54: 148-157 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2015.12.005
Heart rate (HR) was monitored continuously in 41 forest workers performing brushcutting or tree planting work. 10-min seated rest periods were imposed during the workday to estimate the HR thermal component (ΔHRT) per Vogt et al. (1970, 1973). VO2 was measured using a portable gas analyzer during a morning submaximal step-test conducted at the work site, during a work bout over the course of the day (range: 9–74 min), and during an ensuing 10-min rest pause taken at the worksite. The VO2 estimated, from measured HR and from corrected HR (thermal component removed), were compared to VO2 measured during work and rest. Varied levels of HR thermal component (ΔHRTavg range: 0–38 bpm) originating from a wide range of ambient thermal conditions, thermal clothing insulation worn, and physical load exerted during work were observed. Using raw HR significantly overestimated measured work VO2 by 30% on average (range: 1%–64%). 74% of VO2 prediction error variance was explained by the HR thermal component. VO2 estimated from corrected HR, was not statistically different from measured VO2. Work VO2 can be estimated accurately in the presence of thermal stress using Vogt et al.'s method, which can be implemented easily by the practitioner with inexpensive instruments.
Sector(s):
Forests
Categorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forestry Research, Forestry Work, Forests
Departmental author(s):
Author(s)
DUBÉ, Philippe-Antoine, Daniel IMBEAU, Denise DUBEAU, Luc LEBEL and Ahmet KOLUS
Year of publication :
2016
Format :
PDF available upon request
How to get the publication :
Keywords :
métabolisme de travail, fréquence cardiaque, stress thermique, biais de prédiction, travail forestier, article scientifique de recherche forestière, forestry work, work metabolism, heart rate, heat stress, prediction bias
