title: Muscular, cardiorespiratory and thermal strain of mast and pole workers.
abstract: This field study evaluated the level of muscular, cardiorespiratory and thermal strain of mast and pole workers. We measured the muscular strain using electromyography (EMG), expressed as a percentage in relation to maximal EMG activity (%MEMG). Oxygen consumption (VO2) was indirectly estimated from HR measured during work and expressed as a percentage of maximum VO2 (%VO2max). Skin and deep body temperatures were measured to quantify thermal strain. The highest average muscular strain was found in the wrist flexor (24 ± 1.5%MEMG) and extensor (21 ± 1.0%MEMG) muscles, exceeding the recommendation of 14%MEMG. Average cardiorespiratory strain was 48 ± 3%VO2max. Nearly half (40%) of the participants exceeded the recommended 50%VO2max level. The core body temperature varied between 36.8°C and 37.6°C and mean skin temperature between 28.6°C and 33.4°C indicating possible occasional superficial cooling. Both muscular and cardiorespiratory strain may pose a risk of local and systemic overloading and thus reduced work efficiency. Thermal strain remained at a tolerable level.
authors.affiliation: a Physical Work Capacity Team , Finnish Institute of Occupational Health , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oksa
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hosio
authors.forename: Tero
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: Harri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rintamäki
authors.forename: Sirkka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rissanen
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Latvala
authors.forename: Kimmo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vaara
authors.forename: Panu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oksa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060389:Construction Industry; D004576:Electromyography; D018737:Hand Strength; D006339:Heart Rate; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D012881:Skin Temperature; D014953:Wrist
keywords: ambient conditions; fatigue; field study; physical strain; temperature; work at height