A field study in dairy farms: thermal condition of feet

Summary, in English

The study aimed to find out the problems connected with feet during work in cold loose housing barns in wintertime. 13 dairy farms and 20 workers were studied. Skin temperatures and subjective responses were collected, and at the end of a work period the subjects filled in a questionnaire about the workday. The foot skin temperatures were measured on dorsal foot and second toe. Most of the workers used rubber boots. The ambient temperature outdoors varied from +5 to -11 °C. Indoor temperatures could be the same as outdoors (cold barns and fodder storage) but also close to +30 °C (milk room). The lowest mean foot and toe skin temperatures were 24.1±2.6 °C and 16.0±1.4 °C. The lowest measured values were 20.1 °C and 12.8 °C respectively. The toe temperatures were on average 7.3 °C colder than foot temperatures (mean 28.8 °C). The low foot skin temperature was well related to cold sensation. Low toe temperatures fitted well with wetness sensation. On average the thermal sensation of feet over the work period was neutral. The lowest ratings were cold (-2). The combination of various environmental factors in farms complicates finding of perfect footwear for work. Recommendations on the choice of footwear and their care are given.

• Author: Kalev Kuklane; Désirée Gavhed; Klas Fredriksson
• Publishing year: 2001
• Language: English
• Pages: 367-373
• Publication/Series: International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 6
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0169-8141(01)00003-8
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics
• Keywords: Dairy farms; Skin temperature; Milking; Footwear; Cold; Feet; Thermal comfort
• Status: Published
• Research group: Thermal Environment Laboratory
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0169-8141