To determine if the type of work performed should be considered in research on shift work and cardiovascular disease, we compared the heart rates, total number of steps walked, and blood pressures of 12 shift workers on the same rotating 3-shift schedule in a pulp and paper mill. Six workers were selected from the paper manufacturing section (group 1) and six workers from the chemical products section (group 2). Average heart rate (in beats per min) monitored during duty time was 84.3 in group 1 and 87.4 in group 2. Average heart rate during work was not significantly higher than that during rest in both groups 1 (work 85.8, rest 75.3) and 2 (work 87.9, rest 83.1). There was no significant difference in the total number of steps walked. A non-significant decrease in systolic blood pressure value was found in group 1 compared with that in group 2. Although future studies will be needed to explain the relation between different work styles and their effects on the health of shift workers, our results suggest no significant difference in heart rates among workers engaged in different kinds of work on the same shift work schedule.
The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of waterproof covering on finger skin temperature (FST) and hand pain during immersion test for diagnosing hand-arm vibration syndrome complying with the proposal of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO/ CD14835-1, 2001) for measurement procedure. Six healthy male subjects took part in the immersion tests and immersed their both hands into water at 12°C for 5 min, repeatedly with two types of waterproof covering (polyethylene and natural rubber gloves) or without hand covering (bare hands) during immersion. The FST data from middle fingers and subjective pain scores for hand pain were analyzed. Statistically significant differences in FST among three conditions were observed showing the highest FST with natural rubber gloves, followed by the FST with polyethylene gloves and the lowest with bare hands. Significant differences in pain score among three conditions were observed during immersion showing the lowest pain score with natural rubber gloves, followed by the pain score with polyethylene gloves and the highest with bare hands. Immersion test with polyethylene gloves instead of bare hands during immersion seems to be suitable for reducing subject suffering.
Physical Activity, Energy Expenditure and Work Intensity of Care‐Workers on Shift Work in a Special Nursing Home for the Elderly: Tadaaki Wakui, et al. Department of Wellness and Welfare, Ube College—To evaluate the workload of care‐workers on shift work in special nursing homes for the elderly (SNHs), physical activity, energy expenditure and work intensity were measured. Nine healthy female care‐workers volunteered to participate in our study; 3 subjects worked the day shift, 3 subjects worked the night shift, and 3 subjects worked both shifts. Time spent in actual care, heart rate, number of walking steps, energy expenditure, work intensity and time spent in different postures was determined for the day shift and night shifts. The time on duty, work and break (recess) times were significantly greater for the night shift than for the day shift. The percent care time was significantly greater for the day shift than the night shift, and the percent break time was significantly greater for the night shift than the day shift. Individual care of residents accounted for the greatest percent of work time. Minimum and mean heart rates were significantly greater for the day shift than for the night shift, and minimum heart rate in relation to estimated maximum heart rate was significantly greater for the day shift than for the night shift. Although total walking steps for the night shift was significantly greater than that for the day shift, the number of steps per h did not differ between shifts. Energy expenditure (kcal) for the night shift was significantly greater than that for the day shift, but the difference between the two shifts in work intensity (kcal/kg/min) was not significant. Standing (posture) accounted for the largest percentage of work time in relation to other work postures regardless of shift. Physical activity, energy expenditure and work intensity of the SNH care‐workers for both shifts appear to be higher than those reported for nursery school teachers and hospital nurses. We agree with other investigators that appropriate countermeasures are needed to reduce the workload of such care‐workers.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.