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Updated: May 14, 2026

Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise
Published on: March 20, 2012
[Energy expenditure in construction industry].
M Santini1, D Borleri, M Bresciani
1Unitdà Operativa Ospedaliera Medicina del Lavoro - Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy. marisanti@libero.it
Workplace energy expenditure (EE) and heart rate (HR) in construction workers often exceed fatigue thresholds. Portable monitors revealed that manual tasks push workloads beyond the probable fatigue limit (33% Relative Aerobic Strain).
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Sports Science
- Human Physiology
Context:
- Construction industry workers face demanding physical workloads.
- Assessing occupational exertion is crucial for preventing fatigue and injury.
- Portable monitoring devices offer objective measures of physiological strain.
Purpose:
- To measure energy expenditure and heart rate during work activities in construction laborers.
- To analyze the relative aerobic strain (RAS) based on energy expenditure and heart rate data.
- To identify if typical construction tasks exceed probable fatigue thresholds.
Summary:
- Portable heart rate monitors and calorimeters were used to assess male construction workers.
- Relative Aerobic Strain (RAS) was calculated using both energy expenditure and heart rate measurements.
- Findings indicate that manual construction tasks frequently surpass the 33% RAS fatigue threshold.
Impact:
- Highlights the significant physical demands of manual labor in construction.
- Provides data to inform strategies for managing worker fatigue and improving safety.
- Emphasizes the utility of wearable technology in occupational health monitoring.
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