Self-Pacing as a Protective Mechanism against the Effects of Heat Stress

Objective: Self-pacing or avoidance of physiological strain by adjustment of work rate may be an important protective behaviour for manual workers in severe thermal conditions. Data were gathered at a number of industrial sites in the United Arab Emirates to assess whether self-pacing takes place in...

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Main Authors: Miller, Veronica, Bates, Graham, Schneider, J., Thomsen, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Oxford University Press 2011
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/27163
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author Miller, Veronica
Bates, Graham
Schneider, J.
Thomsen, J.
author_facet Miller, Veronica
Bates, Graham
Schneider, J.
Thomsen, J.
author_sort Miller, Veronica
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Objective: Self-pacing or avoidance of physiological strain by adjustment of work rate may be an important protective behaviour for manual workers in severe thermal conditions. Data were gathered at a number of industrial sites in the United Arab Emirates to assess whether self-pacing takes place in these workers. Methods: Heart rate and aural temperature were monitored in 150 subjects for 12 h daily over 2 consecutive days. Environmental parameters were measured for quantification of heat stress by the thermal work limit. Results: There was no evidence of an effect of variation in environmental thermal stress on either average working heart rate or aural temperature. Conclusion: These studies provide evidence that self-pacing is a protective response to working in heat which does not require a highly informed workforce; recognition of this should form part of a holistic approach to management of heat stress in hot climates.
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publishDate 2011
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-271632017-09-13T16:08:12Z Self-Pacing as a Protective Mechanism against the Effects of Heat Stress Miller, Veronica Bates, Graham Schneider, J. Thomsen, J. Objective: Self-pacing or avoidance of physiological strain by adjustment of work rate may be an important protective behaviour for manual workers in severe thermal conditions. Data were gathered at a number of industrial sites in the United Arab Emirates to assess whether self-pacing takes place in these workers. Methods: Heart rate and aural temperature were monitored in 150 subjects for 12 h daily over 2 consecutive days. Environmental parameters were measured for quantification of heat stress by the thermal work limit. Results: There was no evidence of an effect of variation in environmental thermal stress on either average working heart rate or aural temperature. Conclusion: These studies provide evidence that self-pacing is a protective response to working in heat which does not require a highly informed workforce; recognition of this should form part of a holistic approach to management of heat stress in hot climates. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/27163 10.1093/annhyg/mer012 Oxford University Press unknown
spellingShingle Miller, Veronica
Bates, Graham
Schneider, J.
Thomsen, J.
Self-Pacing as a Protective Mechanism against the Effects of Heat Stress
title Self-Pacing as a Protective Mechanism against the Effects of Heat Stress
title_full Self-Pacing as a Protective Mechanism against the Effects of Heat Stress
title_fullStr Self-Pacing as a Protective Mechanism against the Effects of Heat Stress
title_full_unstemmed Self-Pacing as a Protective Mechanism against the Effects of Heat Stress
title_short Self-Pacing as a Protective Mechanism against the Effects of Heat Stress
title_sort self-pacing as a protective mechanism against the effects of heat stress
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/27163