Self-pacing as a protective mechanism against the effects of heat stress
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Self-pacing or avoidance of physiological strain by adjustment of work rate may be an important protective behaviour for manual workers in severe thermal conditions. Data were gathered at a number of industrial sites in the United Arab Emirates to assess whether self-pacing takes place in these workers. METHODS: Heart rate and aural temperature were monitored in 150 subjects for 12 h daily over 2 consecutive days. Environmental parameters were measured for quantification of heat stress by the thermal work limit. RESULTS: There was no evidence of an effect of variation in environmental thermal stress on either average working heart rate or aural temperature. CONCLUSION: These studies provide evidence that self-pacing is a protective response to working in heat which does not require a highly informed workforce; recognition of this should form part of a holistic approach to management of heat stress in hot climates.
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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 Miller et al., 2011
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Bates, G. P., & Schneider, J. (2008) · Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology · doi:10.1186/1745-6673-3-21 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
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Heat stress causes substantial labour productivity loss in Australia
Zander, K. K., Botzen, W. J. W., Oppermann, E., Kjellstrom, T., & Garnett, S. T. (2015) · Nature Climate Change · doi:10.1038/nclimate2623 · Cited by 459 · see citing works
Health Impacts of Workplace Heat Exposure: An Epidemiological Review
XIANG, J., BI, P., PISANIELLO, D., & HANSEN, A. (2014) · Industrial Health · doi:10.2486/indhealth.2012-0145 · Cited by 393 · see citing works
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Rowlinson, S., YunyanJia, A., Li, B., & ChuanjingJu, C. (2014) · Accident Analysis & Prevention · doi:10.1016/j.aap.2013.08.011 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
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Occupational Heat Stress: Multi-Country Observations and Interventions
Ioannou, L. G., Mantzios, K., Tsoutsoubi, L., Nintou, E., Vliora, M., Gkiata, P., Dallas, C. N., Gkikas, G., Agaliotis, G., Sfakianakis, K., et al. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18126303 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Practical on-site measurement of heat strain with the use of a perceptual strain index
Chan, A. P. C., & Yang, Y. (2016) · International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health · doi:10.1007/s00420-015-1073-7 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Zhuo, F., Gaurani, R. J., Low, I. C. C., Deshayes, T. A., Lee, J. K. W., Cheung, S. S., Choo, P. L., & Tan, X. R. (2026) · Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness · doi:10.1016/j.jesf.2025.200436 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Miller, V., Bates, G., Schneider, J. D., & Thomsen, J.
- Affiliations
- Curtin University (AU)
- United Arab Emirates University (AE)
- Corresponding author
- Miller, V.
- ORCID
- Thomsen, J.
- Venue
- Annals of Occupational Hygiene
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2011-04-07
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 548-555
- ISSN
- 0003-4878 (ISSN-L)
- 1475-3162
- OpenAlex
- W2119347260
- Cited by
- 94
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 3.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Annals of Occupational Hygiene (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- eSpace (Curtin University) (submittedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Keywords
- self-pacing, heat stress, blue-collar workers, heart rate, hot climate, industrial workers
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Body Temperature Regulation, Energy Metabolism, Heart Rate, Humans, Industry, Male, Stress, Physiological, United Arab Emirates, Health Behavior, Occupational Exposure, Workload, Heat Stress Disorders, Young Adult
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