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Cited by 42Thermoregulation and physiological responsesOccupational Health and Safety in WorkplacesOccupational Health and Safety Management

Workers self-pacing in hot conditions: a case study

Mairiaux, Ph., Malchaire, J.·1985·Applied Ergonomics
DOI 10.1016/0003-6870(85)90209-1
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Abstract

It is not always possible in hot environments, to determine safe work-rest regimens based upon heat stress criteria. Is it then a good health policy to rely upon the self-pacing of the workers? To address this question, we observed the spontaneous work-rest cycles of seven masonry workers allocated to the maintenance of a float-glass furnace and the workers' heart rate and rectal temperature were continuously monitored. Results showed that the regimens adopted by the workers were poorly related to physiological parameters. The duration of each heat exposure was significantly related to the worker aerobic capacity, but not to the heart rate level reached at the end of the working period. Due to self-pacing of the task, heart rates and rectal temperatures remained within acceptable limits for all workers but one, even though these workers were rather old and had a rather low physical capacity. These favourable results may be ascribed to a spontaneous limitation of the effective working time to about 25% of the shift duration and to the fact that subjects worked, in pairs alternately, to perform the task. It is concluded that self-regulation of the work-rest cycles can be an effective means to protect the workers exposed to hot conditions from an excessive physiological strain, providing that the task has no urgent character and does not involve productivity incentives, and that the workers are well trained to their job.

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Crossref · 10.1016/0003-6870(85)90209-1

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  • The practice of self-pacing by workers through the reduction of their metabolic rate to a safe level has been identified as a protective response to heat stress exposure in construction and other work settings.

    “The practice of self-pacing by workers through the reduction of their metabolic rate to a safe level has been identified as a protective response to heat stress exposure in construction and other work settings (Mairiaux and Malchaire, 1985; Miller et al., 2011; Nag et al., 2013; Peiffer and Abbiss, 2013; Methner and Eisenberg, 2018).”

    From Assessment of Heat Stress Exposure among Construction Workers in the Hot Desert Climate of Saudi Arabia (2019) · cites this paper as Mairiaux and Malchaire, 1985

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Authors
Mairiaux, P., & Malchaire, J.
Affiliations
UCLouvain (BE)
Venue
Applied Ergonomics
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1985-06
Volume
16
Issue
2
Pages
85-90
ISSN
0003-6870 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/0003-6870(85)90209-1
OpenAlex
W2042339087
Cited by
42
References
13
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 3
FWCI
0.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Applied Ergonomics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DIAL (Catholic University of Leuven) (submittedVersion)
  • Open Repository and Bibliography (University of Liège) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety Management
Keywords
self-pacing, heat stress, work-rest cycles, masonry workers, heart rate, rectal temperature, cardiorespiratory fitness, occupational heat exposure, physiological strain, occupational health policy

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