Physical Work in Humid Heat Impairs Postural Balance during Simulated Construction Tasks at Height

Area of Science:

• Environmental Physiology
• Occupational Health
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Occupational heat strain poses risks to construction workers, affecting motor and cognitive functions.
• This can lead to accidents, injuries, and reduced productivity in warm climates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of physical work in warm, humid tropical conditions on virtual reality (VR)-based construction task performance.
• To assess the effects of different heat exposures on worker safety and productivity.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen men performed ~2.5 hours of treadmill walking (light, moderate, heavy workloads) under three heat conditions (COOL, WARM, HOT) simulating Singapore's climate.
• Participants completed VR-based welding and plank-walking tasks, with measurements of task performance, postural sway, gait, body temperatures, and heart rate.

Main Results:

• Body core temperature, mean skin temperature, and heart rate increased significantly with higher heat conditions (HOT > WARM > COOL).
• Task speed and accuracy in VR tasks were not significantly different across conditions.
• Postural sway velocity during VR welding significantly increased in the HOT condition compared to baseline, but not in WARM or COOL.

Conclusions:

• While overall task performance was maintained, heat exposure impaired postural balance during attention-demanding VR tasks.
• Projected environmental conditions in tropical regions may increase accident risks, particularly falls from height.
• Workplace interventions are crucial to safeguard construction workers' health, safety, and productivity against rising temperatures.