Using Trunk Posture to Monitor Heat Strain at Work

Details

• Personal Author:
  Aljaroudi A ; Coca, Aitor ; Kim J-H ; Quinn TD ; Roberge RJ ; Seo Y ; Williams WJ ; Yorio, Patrick L.
• Description:
  This study aimed to determine if trunk posture during walking is related to increases in rectal temperature (Tre). 24 males treadmill walked in one of four conditions (1): 30min at 3.0mph and 0% grade, 20 degrees C and 50% relative humidity (RH), wearing healthcare worker (HCW) PPE; (2): 30min at 3.0mph and 0% grade, 27.5 degrees C and 60% RH, HCW PPE; (3): 30 min at 3.0mph and 0% grade, 32.5 degrees C and 70% RH, HCW PPE; and (4): 40 min at 40% VO2max, 30 degrees C and 70% RH, wearing firefighter PPE. Trunk posture (Zephyr BioHarness 3) and Tre were measured continuously. Tre was positively related to trunk posture, controlling for covariates (B=3.49, p<.001). BMI and age moderated this relationship (Tre x age, B=0.76, p<.001; Tre *BMI, B= -1.85, p<.001). Trunk posture measurement may be useful in monitoring fall potential and magnitude of heat stress of workers in hot environments. Practitioner Summary: Occupational hyperthermia increases worker risk for heat illness and injury but is difficult to monitor in the field. This investigation shows that trunk posture is independently and positively related to core temperature. Non-invasive measurement or visual inspection of trunk posture could provide novel insight on individual heat strain level. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Trunk Posture Body Temperature Core Temperature Heat Exposure Heat Stress Hot Environments Hyperthermia Personal Protective Equipment Physical Exercise Posture PPE Trunk Flexion

  More +
• ISSN:
  0014-0139
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  NPPTL - National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  61
• Issue:
  11
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20054233
• Citation:
  Ergonomics 2018 Nov; 61(11):1560-1568
• Contact Point Address:
  Tyler D. Quinn, Physical Activity and Weight Management Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, 32 Oak Hill Court, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
• Email:
  tylerquinn@pitt.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• NORA Priority Area:
  Public Safety
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Ergonomics
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:66fff69c019a6701c32ae3c6be547a879f4016de39de10026ce3458268825c1bd078620a04fa4dad9c7b564ef20aba0cde4621b19922c1b54d9876c2783466a7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216837/cdc_216837_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.04 MB ]