Physiological reaction and manual performance during work in cold storages

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Physiology
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Workers in cold storage facilities face extreme temperatures (-20°C to -23.2°C).
• Understanding the physiological impact of such environments on manual performance and stress is crucial for worker safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the physiological responses and manual performance of workers in extreme cold (Group R) versus general storehouse conditions (Group C).
• To investigate the relationship between physiological markers and environmental factors in cold work settings.

Main Methods:

• Comparative study involving 10 cold storage workers (Group R) and 8 general storehouse workers (Group C).
• Measurements included hand tremor, grip strength, pinch strength, cognitive tasks, flicker fusion, peak flow rate, blood pressure, and free fatty acid levels.
• Data collected five times daily over the work period.

Main Results:

• Group R exhibited significantly higher free fatty acid (FFA) levels compared to Group C.
• No significant differences were found in handgrip strength, pinch strength, cognitive tasks, flicker value, or peak flow rate between groups.
• Group R showed significantly greater increases in hand tremor and diastolic blood pressure.
• A significant positive correlation was observed between FFA and hand tremor in Group R.

Conclusions:

• Extreme cold work, coupled with significant temperature differentials, increases physiological stress in workers.
• While manual performance may not be distinctly reduced, cold environments elevate stress markers, potentially impacting worker health and safety.
• Increased FFA levels are linked to heightened hand tremor in cold-exposed workers.