Work-rest regimens for work in hot environments: A scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Physiology
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Occupational health organizations recommend work-rest regimens to limit heat stress.
• These regimens aim to prevent core body temperature from exceeding 38°C or increasing by 1°C.
• Existing knowledge on the effectiveness of these regimens in hot environments needs comprehensive mapping.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of existing research on work-rest regimens in hot environments.
• To identify gaps in the current literature regarding the physiological effectiveness of these regimens.
• To propose recommendations for future research directions.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search was conducted across 10 scientific databases.
• Studies focusing on work-rest regimens under hot environmental conditions were included.
• Data extraction focused on study characteristics, regimens used, and reported outcomes.

Main Results:

• 49 articles were reviewed, with 35 being experimental studies, predominantly in laboratory settings.
• Most studies involved healthy young males and focused on physical tasks, with limited reporting on performance outcomes.
• Despite work-rest regimens, 77% of experimental studies reported core temperatures exceeding 38°C.

Conclusions:

• Current research on the physiological effectiveness of work-rest regimens for heat stress is limited.
• Studies are often short, focus on specific demographics, and neglect non-physical performance impacts.
• Further research is required to establish effective, evidence-based work-rest strategies for diverse occupational settings.