Physiological responses of heart rate and blood pressure to order-picking in deep cold
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Karsten Kluth and Helmut Strasser
Ergonomics Division , University of Siegen
Physiological responses of heart rate and
blood pressure to order-picking in deep cold
• Work Physiological Field Study • Severe Cold Exposure • Heart Rate • Blood Pressure
• Manual Material Handling
Summary Réaction physiologique de la fréquence cardiaque du
coeur et de la tension artérielle sur un échan-tillon de
Storing and manual handling of groceries in cold stores requi- personnes travaillant à des températures inférieures
res human work at a constant temperature of at least -24°C. à 0 degré
Depending on the climatic environment and the physical
activities demanded, and even with optimal cold-protective • Champ d’étude du travail physiologique • astreinte due
clothing, employees can work only for a limited amount of au froid • fréquence cardiaque • pression sanguine • ma-
time in the extreme cold, followed by warming-up periods in nutention de charges
suitable recreation rooms. But there is a lack of ergonomically
approved human-compatible work-rest-schemes. Therefore, Résumé
the physiological responses of heart rate and blood pressure
were analyzed in a field study carried out in an industrial Le stockage et la manutention de produits alimentaires dans
cold-storage depot. The results show strong interindividual des entrepôts réfrigérés exigent une exécution du travail à
variations for both the reference level of the physiological une température constante d’au moins -24 °C. En fonction de
parameters and for the work-related and cold-exposure-related l’environnement climatique, de l’activité physique exigée, mais
responses. aussi de l’efficacité des vêtements protecteurs contre le froid, le
travailleur ne peut être actif que pour des durées limitées dans
Practical Relevance des froids extrêmes. Celles-ci doivent être suivies de périodes
de réchauffement dans des chambres de repos confortables.
Recommendations for tolerability of different cold exposures Néanmoins, il n’existe pas aujourd’hui de critères ergonomiques
and the design of cold-protective clothing which, at present, reconnus et adaptés pour ces chambres de repos. Par conséquent,
can be found in standards, rules and regulations, as well as les réponses physiologiques de la fréquence cardiaque et de la
in the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety tension artérielle ont été analysées au travers d’une étude réalisée
Act, seem to be useful and very exact. Additionally, there is dans un entrepôt industriel réfrigéré. Les résultats montrent de
a controver-sial discussion about these recommendations and fortes variations interindividuelles pour le niveau de référence
standards in the scientific literature because present knowledge des paramètres physiologiques et pour les réponses liées au
about the impact of such limiting zones on stress and strain in travail et celles relatives à l’exposition au froid.
occupational medicine and ergonomics is not secured. This
deficiency needs to be ameliorated, primarily in order to create Importance pratique
preventive occupational health and safety and, ultimately, also
to increase the efficiency of the work process. Il y a une discussion controversée dans la littérature scientifique
parce que les connaissances actuelles au sujet de l'impact de
telles zones de froid sur la tension et le stress n’est pas fixée par
la médecine du travail et l'ergonomie. Ces recommandations
se situent plutôt dans une zone floue entre les connaissances
scientifiques et certaines suppositions. Cette insuffisance doit
être améliorée, premièrement afin de créer un niveau préven-
tif de santé et de sécurité professionnelle et, finalement, afin
d’augmenter l'efficacité des processus de travail.
(62) 2008/4 Z. ARB. WISS. Physiological responses of heart rate and blood pressure to order-picking in deep cold 239
zfa4_2008.indb 239 07.10.2008 20:04:16Physiologische Reaktionen von Herzschlagfrequenz und Blutdruck
beim Kommissionieren in tiefer Kälte
• Arbeitsphysiologische Feldstudie • Kältebeanspruchung • Herzschlagfrequenz • Blutdruck • Manuelle Lastenhandhabung
Zusammenfassung starken Reaktionen mit einem Steady State selbst noch bei 140
Schlägen/min waren dennoch kaum „Kältepulse“ extrahierbar,
Im Gegensatz zu Hitzearbeit, die – bedingt durch technolo- zumal die Arbeit mit erheblichen physischen Komponenten,
gische und technisch-wirtschaftliche Veränderungen – in der zusammen mit dem Tragen der ca. 5-6 kg schweren Kälte-
letzten Zeit deutlich abgenommen hat, kommt Kältearbeit schutzkleidung, bereits für die Erhöhungen verantwortlich
beschäftigungspolitisch immer mehr Bedeutung zu, zumal der gemacht werden muss. Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen starke
Verzehr von Tiefkühlkost mittlerweile recht populär geworden interindividuelle Unterschiede sowohl im Ausgangsniveau
ist. Das Lagern und „Kommissionieren“ von tiefgekühlten der physiologischen Parameter als auch in den arbeits- bzw.
Lebensmitteln konnte bislang nicht automatisiert werden und kältebezogenen Reaktionen. Während das „Ansprechen“ bzw.
bedingt deshalb den Einsatz des Menschen in Tiefkühlhäu- die Reaktivität des Blutdrucks und der Herzschlagfrequenz
sern bei konstanten Temperaturen von mindestens -24°C. Je auf die Kältebelastung noch relativ gut reproduzierbar war,
nach vorliegenden kälteklimatischen Parametern und erfor- war die Ausgangslage dieser Größen nur bedingt stabil. In
derlichen körperlichen Tätigkeiten kann selbst bei optimaler Übereinstimmung mit andernorts berichteten Erkenntnissen
Kälteschutzkleidung nur ein zeitlich begrenzter Aufenthalt bei kann festgestellt werden, dass unabhängig von Kältearbeit
diesen extremen Temperaturen mit mehr oder weniger langen – bedingt z. B. durch inter- und intradianes physiologisches
Aufwärmphasen in geeigneten nahe gelegenen Sozialräumen „Rauschen“, selbst nur gering variierende Messbedingungen
vorgesehen werden. und haltungsbedingt unterschiedliche statisch/dynamische
Belastungskomponenten – Schwankungen um ±10 mmHg und
Abgesehen von einigen älteren Laborexperimenten gibt es mehr bzw. ±10 Schläge/min keine Seltenheit sind. Pathologi-
kaum Studien zu den Auswirkungen von Kältearbeit auf den scher Bluthochdruck (Hypertonie) als zumindest potentielle
Menschen bei realen Tätigkeiten. Somit sind auch geeigne- Langzeitauswirkung aufgrund von repetitiver kältebedingter
te und humanverträgliche Arbeits-Pausen-Regime bislang peripherer Vasokonstriktion kann jedoch ohne eine Follow-
arbeitswissenschaftlich wenig gesichert. Deshalb wurde up-Studie nicht völlig ausgeschlossen werden.
versucht – neben der Erhebung des subjektiven Empfindens
von Arbeit in Kälte und ihren Auswirkungen auf den kör-
perlichen Erlebensbereich an einem größeren Kollektiv – in Praktische Relevanz
arbeitsphysiologischen Felduntersuchungen die physische
Beanspruchung zu objektivieren. Außer der Erfassung von Zurzeit sind in Europa noch in Normen, Richtlinien und in
Körperkern- und Hauttemperatur interessierten vor allem Gesetzen zum Arbeitsschutz konkrete, den Anschein von
die Auswirkungen der Kälteexposition auf die Herzfrequenz hoher Genauigkeit erweckende Zahlenangaben aus Labor-
und den Blutdruck. Dazu wurden an einer Gruppe von 7 untersuchungen zur Tolerabilität verschiedener Kältebe-
männlichen und 5 weiblichen Arbeitspersonen kontinuierliche lastungen und zur Gestaltung von Kälteschutzkleidung zu
Registrierungen der Herzfrequenz über jeweils eine ganze finden. Diese Empfehlungen und Vorgaben werden aber im
Arbeitsschicht vorgenommen. Der systolische und diastolische Schrifttum kontrovers diskutiert, weil der arbeitsmedizinische
Blutdruck wurde diskontinuierlich unmittelbar nach und vor und arbeitswissenschaftliche Erkenntnisstand in derartigen
den Kältearbeitsphasen ermittelt. Das eingesetzte handelsübli- Grenzbereichen von Belastung und Beanspruchung in einer
che halbautomatische Blutdruckmessgerät gestattete auch die Grauzone zwischen Wissen und Vermutung liegt. Dieses De-
gleichzeitige punktuelle Messung der Pulsfrequenz. fizit gilt es aufzuarbeiten, um für präventiven Arbeitsschutz
zu sorgen und letztendlich auch die Arbeitsprozess-Effizienz
Die Blutdruckwerte der kälteakklimatisierten Arbeitspersonen zu steigern.
lagen unmittelbar nach der Kälteexposition stets im oberen
Normalbereich bzw. allenfalls (beim systolischen Wert) im
Grenzwertbereich von 140-160 mmHg (systolisch) bzw. 90-
95 mmHg (diastolisch). Im Mittel wurden über das Kollektiv
Maximalwerte von 146±10 mmHg bzw. 85±7 mmHg bei Puls-
frequenzen von 96±14 Schlägen/min gemessen. Die während
der Kälteexposition kontinuierlich erfassten Herzfrequenz-
Werte hoben sich zwar viel deutlicher von den Werten wäh-
rend der Aufwärmphasen ab. Bei individuell unterschiedlich
240 K. Kluth, H. Strasser (62) 2008/4 Z. ARB. WISS.
zfa4_2008.indb 240 07.10.2008 20:04:171 Introduction
Due to technological and technical-
economic changes, working in hot
conditions has become much less
frequent in the recent past. Contrary
to that, employment in working in the
cold has increased, especially since
the consumption of frozen goods has
become quite popular (cp. Figure 1). It
Figure 2: Commissioner on a horizontal order picker (ground conveyor) with frozen groceries in the cold
has still not been possible to automate
store (-24°C)
the storage and “commissioning” of
Bild 2: Kommissionierer auf einem Flurförderzeug mit Tiefkühlware im Tiefkühllager (-24°C)
frozen groceries, and thus requires
Illustration 2: Travailleur sur un chariot de manutention avec des produits surgelés dans l'entrepôt de
the employment of human beings in
réfrigération (- 24°C)
cold-storage depots at constant tem-
peratures of -24°C and below. Even
optimal cold-protective gear, however,
allows only a limited stay at such ex-
treme temperatures and, depending on
the environmental exposure combined laboratory – e.g., Forsthoff (1983), in cold-storage depots in accordance
with the required physical tasks, war- Griefahn (1995), Häcker (1989), and with work-physiological, organizatio-
ming-up phases of varying duration Kleinöder (1988) – there are hardly nal, and legal requirements are based
in suitable social rooms close-by are any studies that examined the effects on established ergonomic knowledge.
necessary (cp. Osaki et al. 1998). of working in the cold on the human Therefore, this work-physiological
body during real tasks (cp. Toshihara field study attempted to objectify the
Aside from some older experiments et al. 1995). Thus, neither a suitable physical strain of work in a deep cold
(cp. Adolph & Molnar 1946; Budd & and humane regime of work and rest environment.
Warhaft 1966; Hellstrom et al. 1979) period nor instructions with respect to
that were typically carried out in the the ergonomic design of workplaces
1.1 Physiological effects while
working in the cold
The evaluated workplace in a com-
mercial cold-storage depot (cp. left
part of Figure 2) met all current
accident prevention regulations and,
additionally, was designed according
to requirements of the Occupational
Health and Safety Act. Furthermore,
the workplace did not require any fun-
damental changes from an ergonomics
perspective with respect to the topogra-
phic layout, the technical equipment,
or the work clothing. The storage area
of the selected cold-storage depot con-
sists of only one storage level. This is
always the case when single items must
be commissioned manually for smaller
shops. In the case of commissioning
goods on pallets for bulk purchasers,
Figure 1: International per-capita consumption of frozen groceries in 2006 (left chart) and in the last 20 the storage area consists of several
years in Germany (right chart; in kilogram, not including ice cream) (Deutsches Tiefkühlinstitut storage levels. In both cases horizontal
2007) order pickers, which are operated by
Bild 1: Internationaler Pro-Kopf-Verbrauch an gefrorenen Lebensmitteln in 2006 (linkes Diagramm) the commissioning staff (cp. right part
und in den letzten 20 Jahren in Deutschland (rechtes Diagramm; in Kilogramm, ohne Speise- of Figure 2), are used for transporting
eis) (Deutsches Tiefkühlinstitut 2007) the goods.
Illustration 1: Consommation au niveau international de produits surgelés par habitant en 2006 (diagramme
de gauche) et consommation par habitant au cours des 20 dernières années en Al-lemagne In spite of wearing protective gear and
(diagramme de droite, en kilogrammes, n’incluant pas les crèmes glacées) (Deutsches Tief- a generally suitable workplace design,
kühlinstitut 2007) working in temperatures below -20°C
(62) 2008/4 Z. ARB. WISS. Physiological responses of heart rate and blood pressure to order-picking in deep cold 241
zfa4_2008.indb 241 07.10.2008 20:04:17represents a heavy challenge to the response to the cold exposure were of (1965) observed an increase, whereas
body’s thermo-regulation to maintain special interest in this field study. Anett and Watts (1960) as well as
a constant body core temperature of Budd and Warhaft (1966) registered
approximately +37°C. Under thermally a decrease of the heart rate. O’Hanlon
neutral climate conditions, the human Heart rate and Horvath (1970), in contrast, did
body’s heat exchange with the environ- not note any statistically significant
ment is balanced. That is, taking into The heart rate serves as an indicator alterations.
account a – very limited – “buffer” that of physical strain on the whole body.
is determined by the mass of the body The rate is more or less constant while In the rare experimential tests that
shell, the amount of heat energy that is working if the stress does not lead to have been carried out so far and are
produced, absorbed, and released is in fatigue. Only a continuous increase comparable to the conditions in the
balance. In order to maintain the heat marks physical fatigue with stress cold-storage depot with respect to
balance, potential heat losses can be above the endurance level (cp. Strasser the exposure to the cold (especially
compensated through various regulato- & Müller-Limmroth 1983). Forsthoff 1983) increase as well as
ry mechanisms. The thermo-regulation decrease of the heart rate have been
at low temperatures occurs autono- Whereas heat strain leads to a some- noted. In the study carried out by
mously through physiological mecha- times drastic increase of the heart rate Müller-Arnecke and Hold (1999) the
nisms, i.e., more or less pronounced (in case of vasodilatation in the body heart rate decreased significantly by 3 x
changes of heart rate, body core and periphery) for reasons of thermo-regu- 50 min during the test time at a constant
skin surface temperature, oxygen con- lation (characterised by an increased cold exposure. This decrease, however,
sumption, and blood pressure. convective heat transport away from cannot be interpreted as a consequence
the body core or the musculature and of the climate strain, but can rather be
In addition to the ergonomic evalu- towards the skin as a cooling surface explained with a certain decline of the
ation of this special workplace and through the blood, in which case the intentional basic tension of the test
the above-mentioned physiological heart is used as a circulating pump), subjects known from laboratory tests
parameters (cp. Figure 3), the effects statements on the strain of the circu- for decades (cp. Strasser 1981). Yet,
on the body core and skin surface tem- latory system when working at low the authors mentioned above do not
perature (cp. Strasser & Kluth 2006) as temperatures are inconsistent. Adolph interpret the specific climatic effect,
well as heart rate and blood pressure in and Monar (1946) as well as Thauer which occurs at least when comparing
the heart rate profiles of the two tested
extreme values during the exposure
to the cold, that is -5°C and +21°C, a
systematic effect even if the increase
of the heart rate by 5 beats/min at -5°C
is not very extreme.
Blood pressure
Starting from the basal blood pressure
(the lowest value in the morning)
and the intermittently recorded blood
pressure, physiological reactions
in the form of substantial increases
indeed occur under static and dyna-
mic stress in addition to circadian
fluctuations. According to Barton &
Endholm (1969), Folk (1974), Steeg-
mann (1975), Toshihara et al. (1995a
& 1995b), and Ozaki et al. (1998 &
2001), there is a pronounced increase
in blood pressure relative to comfor-
table climatic conditions as a response
to cold exposure due to peripheral va-
soconstriction. Comparison measure-
ments of Forsthoff (1983) in resting as
Figure 3: Ergonomic evaluation of the working conditions and strain analysis of the employees during well as in working showed increases in
the work in a cold store at approximately -24°C blood pressure of up to 20 mmHg (sys-
Bild 3: Ergonomische Evaluierung der Arbeitsbedingungen und Beanspruchungsanalyse der Arbeits- tolic) and 10 mmHg (diastolic). Thus,
personen bei der Arbeit im Tiefkühllager bei ca. -24°C local and sudden cold stimuli cause a
Illustration 3: Evaluation ergonomique des conditions de travail et analyse des astreintes du personnel pronounced increase in blood pressure
pendant la durée du travail dans des entrepôts de réfrigération par approximativement -24° C (cp. Hines & Brown 1995; Leblanc
242 K. Kluth, H. Strasser (62) 2008/4 Z. ARB. WISS.
zfa4_2008.indb Abs1:242 07.10.2008 20:04:181975), albeit a considerably smaller Table 1: Characteristics of the employees, N=12
magnitude occurs in persons who have Tabelle 1: Spezifische Angaben zu den untersuchten Arbeitspersonen, N=12
been acclimatized to the cold. Tableau 1: Caractéristiques des employés, N=12
Job Experience in the
Age
Subject Gender Cold-storage Depot
[Years]
[Years]
I male 25 2
2 Methods II male 23 2
III female 31 2.25
The heart rate of 7 male and 5 female
IV female 32 0.25
employees was continuously recorded
V male 37 2
over an entire work shift to allow an
VI male 32 2
assessment of the strain for the whole
VII male 42 0.75
body. The employees ranged in age
from 22 to 43 years, and their mean ex- VIII male 28 1.5
perience on the job as commissioners IX male 22 1.5
was 1.4 years (cp. Table 1). Signal pre- X female 36 1
amplifier units that were attached to the XI female 30 1.5
body and data loggers were used, which XII female 43 0.25
allowed the employees to move freely ത േ ୢ - 31.8±6.8 1.4±0.7
without being hooked up to a stationary
measuring device. Furthermore, the sys-
tolic and diastolic blood pressure were
discontinuously determined immediate-
ly after and prior to the work phases in
the low-temperature environment via a commissioner’s horizontal order picker As a review of Figure 4 shows, the high-
commercially available semi-automatic (ground conveyor) are at the same level est weights that were moved per hour
blood pressure monitor that uses the and the boxes must therefore only be by male test subjects I and II (approx.
oscillometric method and is certified lifted and held briefly and then moved 1900 kg/h and 1700 kg/h; cp. Figure
according to 93/42/EWG. horizontally in a (favorable) upright 4) also lead to the most strain on the
position, then despite the total weight circulatory system. Even despite heart
of several tons, the stress is certainly rates in test subject II around 140 beats/
not excessive, even for female emplo- min (cp. very top of Figure 5), how-
yees. If, however, the commissioners ever, no destabilization with continuous
3 Results must mostly bend over to pick up increases of the heart rate are apparent.
boxes from the floor and lift them This can clearly be explained by the
At the beginning of the field study, the onto the horizontal order picker at or fact that the experienced employees
weights of the goods that are handled above shoulder level, even lightweight (with regular service in the cold-storage
by a cold-storage commissioner during boxes lead to strong physical strain. depot for over 2 years) developed an
the course of a workday were analyzed. The motion of the upper torso against appropriate technique and a work pace
As can be seen in Figure 4, the weight gravity can result in substantial “idle that is apparently suited to their physical
of the handled pieces mainly falls into power.” The “idle power” alone can condition and the required tasks in the
the ranges from 5 to 7.5 kg (38 %) and result in excessive stress since it can cold-storage depot. Additionally, as can
7.5 to 10 kg (32 %). Pieces weighing be a multiple of the “net power” (the be seen in the profile of test subject II
from 2 to 5 kg made up 18 % of all the weight of the moved pieces). over the entire shift, the resting heart
pieces handled. Pieces with a weight rate was already relatively high (ap-
in excess of 10 kg occurred with a prox. 100 beats/min) during the several
frequency of 8 % (5 % + 3 %). The warming-up periods. This employee’s
lightest piece weighed 2 kg, while the reaction can thus be considered an ex-
weight of the heaviest piece was 15 kg. 3.1 Heart rate profiles of the com- ception or “worst-case” scenario.
The number of pieces that were moved missioners
per hour by the employees and their The also rather high “tonnage” of the
weights can be seen in Figure 4, too. An estimate for the – ultimately rele- female employee XI (approx. 1800
On average, the commissioners moved vant – strain on the whole body can be kg/h; cp. Figure 4) allows a similar
227 pieces with a mean total weight of obtained via heart rate profiles. As long interpretation with respect to the effects
1605 kg per hour. as the work-induced increases in the of strain (cp. Figure 5). The continuous
heart rate – typically up to approx. 35 recording over the length of the shift
The weight of the individual pieces beats/min relative to the resting level (approx. 5½ hours) indicates that the
and the “totaled” tonnages per shift, while sitting – result in a “steady state“ breaks allowed a complete recovery
however, are not exact predictors for over time, it can be assumed that the from the physically demanding work
the strain on the employees. For ex- work is tolerable with respect to the periods (with heart rates around 120
ample, when the storage pallets and the strain on the circulatory system. beats/min).
(62) 2008/4 Z. ARB. WISS. Physiological responses of heart rate and blood pressure to order-picking in deep cold 243
zfa4_2008.indb Abs1:243 07.10.2008 20:04:19climatic stress and commissioning
itself is physically stressful work.
However, the combination of the two
kinds of stress is most likely beneficial
with respect to the resulting strain. It
appears more favorable, for examp-
le, than commissioning work under
climatic conditions above freezing at
temperatures of approx. +24°C.
The heart rate values were continuous-
ly recorded during the cold exposure
in order to objectify possible physio-
logical short-term adaptations to the
extreme cold. Based on established
knowledge of physiological regulatory
mechanisms, a useful vasoconstriction
in the body’s periphery (in order to mi-
nimize heat loss) and a possibly resul-
ting specific, blood pressure-increasing
effect can hypothetically be expected.
Such an effect may cause the heart rate
to increase. However, physical work has
an intervening effect on the actuating
elements of the circulatory system’s
regulation. Additionally, because of the
protective clothing that covers almost
the entire body, the thermo-regulatory
processes in response to the cold may
no longer play a role. Instead, the pro-
tective clothing’s additional weight of
Figure 4: Weight of the handled groceries per piece (top) and number of pieces and weight of the frozen approx. 5 kg may be the cause of the in-
groceries, picked per hour by 10 of the 12 subjects in the cold storage (bottom) creases. As can be seen in the examples
Bild 4: Stückgewicht der zu kommissionierenden Lebensmittel (oben) sowie Anzahl und Gewicht der in Figure 5, the measured values were
im Tiefkühllager von 10 der 12 Arbeitspersonen pro Stunde kommissionierten Ware (unten) much more distinct from the values
Illustration 4: Poids des produits alimentaires manipulés par lot (au-dessus), nombre de lots et poids des produits during the warming-up phases. With
surgelés sélectionnés par heure et pour 10 à 12 sujets dans l’entrepôt réfrigéré (en dessous) individually varying reactions, however,
it was almost impossible to extract cold-
related high heart rates.
The weight of the cold protective
clothing can be compared with that of
heat protective clothing. Heavy heat
The results of employee IV (cp. Figure physical strain in comparison to the protective clothes weighing between
5) show that even relatively low tonna- previously mentioned results of em- 5 and 6 kg (flame-retarding protective
ges (less than 1200 kg/h; cp. Figure 4) ployee IV (cp. Figure 5). This profile clothing of a smelter with aluminium-
can apparently lead to high strain on the in conjunction with the inconspicuous laminated smelter coat) show the desi-
circulatory system under unfavorable results for the other subjects indicates red protection against thermal radiation
conditions. Of all the recordings, the that the combination of cold exposure in comparison to the basic clothes, but
strain during the commissioning activity and commissioning is tolerable. they also have a significant increase in
in this case is closest to being excessive. strain on the heart rate – yielding an
Interestingly, the noticeable increases increase of about 10 beats/min simply
in the heart rate over time and the peak due to the weight of the clothes.
levels in excess of 140 beats/min that in- 3.2 Discussion of the heart rate
deed suggest excessive strain occur in a profiles
female employee with the least amount
of experience in the cold-storage depot The relatively demanding physical task 3.3 Blood pressure values prior to,
(3 months at the time of the study). of moving boxes can thus typically be during, and after the cold expo-
carried out even – or especially – at sure
The total amount that was “handled” -24°C without extreme short-term
by subject III (approx. 1750 kg; cp. strain if a proper technique is used. The normal value of the brachial blood
Figure 4) results in relatively low Clearly, -24°C represents extreme pressure at rest at room temperature is
244 K. Kluth, H. Strasser (62) 2008/4 Z. ARB. WISS.
zfa4_2008.indb Abs1:244 07.10.2008 20:04:19to the cold. This last point became es-
pecially clear during the blood pressure
examination that was carried out several
times during a work shift – i.e., prior
to and after the leaving of the cold-
storage depot – in this field study (cp.
upper and middle part of Figure 6). The
blood pressure values of the employees
who have been acclimatized to the cold
immediately following the strenuous
commissioning work in the cold en-
vironment were still within the upper
range of what is considered normal or,
in some cases, borderline hypertension
(140-160 mmHg (systolic) and 90-95
mmHg (diastolic)). The lower part
of Figure 6 shows that only two test
subjects exhibited systolic maximum
values (employee I and II) and one test
subject exhibited a diastolic maximum
value (employee X) that is classified
as hypertension. Averaged over all test
subjects, maximum values of 146±10
mmHg and 85±7 mmHg were measured
at heart rates of 96±14 beats/min.
3.4 Discussion of the blood pressure
values
Additional results, not shown here,
point out distinct differences between
individuals both in the base level of
the physiological parameters and in
the reactions to work and cold. While
the reactivity of the blood pressure
and the heart rate to the cold exposure
could be reproduced rather well, the
Figure 5: "Heart rate"-time diagram of 4 commissioners based on several working periods in the cold
initial level of these variables was
(-24°C) and warming-up breaks
only conditionally stable. Consistent
Bild 5: Herzschlagfrequenzprofile (HSF) von 4 Arbeitspersonen, dargestellt über mehrere Arbeits-
with the results of other studies, it
phasen bei -24°C und Aufwärmpausen
was found that fluctuations of ±10
Illustration 5: diagramme des fréquences cardiaques en fonction du temps pour 4 travailleurs, établi sur plu-
mmHg (and more) and ±10 beats/min
sieurs périodes de travail dans le froid (-24° C) alternées à des pauses de réchauffement
that are unrelated to working in the
cold are not uncommon. Examples
of possible reasons include inter-
and intradian physiological “noise,”
slightly varying measuring conditions,
and differences in the static/ dynamic
120 mmHg (systolic) over 80 mmHg gical hypertension (cp. Sinz & Witzler stress components related to posture.
(diastolic). According to classification 1993; Seibt & Scheuch o.J.). Thus, the recorded differences in the
criteria of the WHO (World Health intermittently recorded blood pressure
Organization), blood pressure values In a cold working environment, Forst- both between and within individuals
of up to 140 mmHg (systolic) over 90 hoff (1983) could verify a pronounced can still be considered physiologically
mmHg (diastolic) are still referred to as increase in blood pressure of up to 20 inconspicuous. Yet, it is not possible to
normotonia while values of 140 to 160 mmHg (systolic) and 10 mmHg (dias- completely rule out pathological hyper-
mmHg (systolic) and 90 to 95 mmHg tolic) relative to comfortable climatic tension as a potential long-term effect
(diastolic) are called borderline hyper- conditions as a response to cold expo- of repetitive cold-related peripheral
tension. Systolic values in excess of sure due to peripheral vasoconstriction, vasoconstriction without further stu-
160 mmHg and diastolic values above albeit considerably smaller magnitude dies, especially since the participating
95 mmHg are considered as patholo- in persons who have been acclimatized commissioners were only exposed to
(62) 2008/4 Z. ARB. WISS. Physiological responses of heart rate and blood pressure to order-picking in deep cold 245
zfa4_2008.indb Abs1:245 07.10.2008 20:04:19Employees aged 45 and above will
in future form a growing part in the
companies even if the personnel po-
licy is aiming at releasing the older
and experienced employees into early
retirement or unemployment. The
companies, however, only barely ack-
nowledge the problem linked with this
demographic development, despite a
tangible lack of a qualified work.
In anthropocentric oriented ergonomics
there is an agreement on the stance that
older people are not necessarily less
efficient than younger ones. Their
competence is especially expressed in
terms of characteristics and abilities
such as reliability, experience, respon-
sibility, motivation, and commitment
and their health ultimately depends
on the work organisation during the
whole working life. So the companies
are to a certain extent also responsible
for their workers’ ability to work and
employability. This is especially true
for companies with certain conditions
of the working environment as working
at low temperatures. In this context,
occupational health and safety for
younger and older employees plays an
important role because health problems
have a decisive effect on the efficiency
of the work force and they normally
evolve slowly over many years. Deci-
Figure 6: Blood pressures and heart rates of two female commissioners (upper and middle chart), sive causes are among other things the
maxima and minima of the systolic and diastolic readings of the blood pressures as well as working environment such as extreme
simultaneously measured heart rates of all 12 commissioners (lower chart), based on discretely climatic conditions at work. In order to
measured data prior to and after cold exposures make “working at low temperatures”
Bild 6: Stichpunktartige Messungen der Blutdruckwerte und Herzschlagfrequenzen von zwei more agreeable to an aging work force
weiblichen Arbeitspersonen (oberes und mittleres Diagramm), Maxima und Mittelwerte der in the long run, closer attention has to
systolischen und diastolischen Blutdrücke sowie der zeitgleich erhobenen Pulsfrequenzen be given to the combined parameters
von allen 12 Arbeitspersonen (unteres Diagramm), basierend auf Messwerten vor und nach of age and cold.
Kälteexpositionen
Illustration 6: Tension artérielle et fréquence cardiaque de deux femmes (diagramme supérieur et du milieu),
maxima et minima des lectures systoliques et diastoliques des tensions artérielles, ainsi Acknowledgement
que des fréquences cardiaques mesurées simultanément sur chacun des douze travailleurs
(diagramme inférieur), basées sur des mesures avant et après exposition au froid Supported by the German Research
Foundation (Grant No. STR 392/5-1).
the relevant work environment for a well as to a continuous decrease in the
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