En pilotstudie om arbete i kyla - frågeundersökning och fältstudie
Author
Summary, in English
Désirée Gavhed, Kalev Kuklane, Eva Karlsson, Ingvar Holmér. A pilot study on work
in the cold - questionnaire survey and field study. Arbetslivsrapport 1999:4.
A pilot study regarding work in cold conditions was performed during the winter period
1997-1998. The study comprised two parts, a questionnaire survey and a set of
field measurements. The purpose of the study was to link laboratory studies with results
from real life conditions and to map problems for individuals at occupational
work outdoors in winter.
The questionnaires were answered by 43 persons (21-61 years old): harbour
workers, mastworkers, telecommunication technicians and customs personnel (response
rate 65 %). The normal workload varied between “very light” to “very heavy”
and was uniformly distributed between the work load levels. More than half of the
working day was spent outdoors, even in temperatures below 0 °C. 84 % of the respondents
reported that they were bothered by cold at the working place, at “a few occasions”
to “always”. Wind was the most important cause. A few respondents (14 %) had
got a frostbite in connection with occupational work. Feet, toes, hands, fingers, face
and ears were experienced as the coolest body parts. The reasons for cold hands and
feet were connected with the insufficient insulation of the provided shoes and gloves.
More than half of the respondents had had difficulties to use tools more often than
once a week due to cold fingers. Only half of the respondents were satisfied with their
work clothes. They were least satisfied with their outdoor clothes (outer shell), shoes
and gloves. Requirements concerning improvements of the work clothing were given
by the participants. Slipping was another common problem.
Eight harbour workers (31-62 years old) participated in the field study. They were
studied during one ordinary workday. The rating of perceived exertion varied between
“very, very light” to “hard”. Probably due to the mild weather (+4 - +8 °C), only two
were bothered by cold occasionally and one the whole workday. The toe and foot temperatures
were relatively high in the well insulated boots. Only one person, who wore
shoes, experienced cold feet. The hands, toes, thighs and cheek had the lowest temperatures.
The body was warm in most participants during work, only one individual
felt cold after one work session. According to our estimations of the clothing insulation
value and assessment of the cold strain with the cold index IREQ, all the participants
had more than sufficient or just sufficient insulation to avoid body core cooling
during a working day. However, during work, the mean skin temperatures and, at several
occasions, the hand temperatures, mainly in the end of longer work periods, were
somewhat lower than the comfort criteria in IREQ. Similar to the survey, the field study
brought up some complaints about the protective garments.
Many participants were bothered by cold and wind. Actions to prevent problems
with cold work were suggested in the report. Further development of protective gloves
and footwear is needed. To some extent, the problems in cold may be solved by purchase
and use of the best products on the market. This requires more knowledge and
information on products and insulation requirements in various conditions.
Keywords: clothing insulation, footwear, temperature, port, customs, work on masts.
in the cold - questionnaire survey and field study. Arbetslivsrapport 1999:4.
A pilot study regarding work in cold conditions was performed during the winter period
1997-1998. The study comprised two parts, a questionnaire survey and a set of
field measurements. The purpose of the study was to link laboratory studies with results
from real life conditions and to map problems for individuals at occupational
work outdoors in winter.
The questionnaires were answered by 43 persons (21-61 years old): harbour
workers, mastworkers, telecommunication technicians and customs personnel (response
rate 65 %). The normal workload varied between “very light” to “very heavy”
and was uniformly distributed between the work load levels. More than half of the
working day was spent outdoors, even in temperatures below 0 °C. 84 % of the respondents
reported that they were bothered by cold at the working place, at “a few occasions”
to “always”. Wind was the most important cause. A few respondents (14 %) had
got a frostbite in connection with occupational work. Feet, toes, hands, fingers, face
and ears were experienced as the coolest body parts. The reasons for cold hands and
feet were connected with the insufficient insulation of the provided shoes and gloves.
More than half of the respondents had had difficulties to use tools more often than
once a week due to cold fingers. Only half of the respondents were satisfied with their
work clothes. They were least satisfied with their outdoor clothes (outer shell), shoes
and gloves. Requirements concerning improvements of the work clothing were given
by the participants. Slipping was another common problem.
Eight harbour workers (31-62 years old) participated in the field study. They were
studied during one ordinary workday. The rating of perceived exertion varied between
“very, very light” to “hard”. Probably due to the mild weather (+4 - +8 °C), only two
were bothered by cold occasionally and one the whole workday. The toe and foot temperatures
were relatively high in the well insulated boots. Only one person, who wore
shoes, experienced cold feet. The hands, toes, thighs and cheek had the lowest temperatures.
The body was warm in most participants during work, only one individual
felt cold after one work session. According to our estimations of the clothing insulation
value and assessment of the cold strain with the cold index IREQ, all the participants
had more than sufficient or just sufficient insulation to avoid body core cooling
during a working day. However, during work, the mean skin temperatures and, at several
occasions, the hand temperatures, mainly in the end of longer work periods, were
somewhat lower than the comfort criteria in IREQ. Similar to the survey, the field study
brought up some complaints about the protective garments.
Many participants were bothered by cold and wind. Actions to prevent problems
with cold work were suggested in the report. Further development of protective gloves
and footwear is needed. To some extent, the problems in cold may be solved by purchase
and use of the best products on the market. This requires more knowledge and
information on products and insulation requirements in various conditions.
Keywords: clothing insulation, footwear, temperature, port, customs, work on masts.
Publishing year
1999
Language
Swedish
Publication/Series
Arbetslivsrapport
Document type
Report
Publisher
Arbetslivsinstitutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Topic
- Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics
Keywords
- arbetskläder
- isolation
- skyddsskor
- temperatur
- hamn
- mastarbete
- tull
Status
Published
Report number
1999:4
Research group
- Thermal Environment Laboratory
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1401-2928