Performance and sensory aspects of work in cold environments: a review

Abstract

Performance and sensory aspects of work in cold environments: a review Climatic Physiology and Psychophysiological Sections, De~artment of Occu~ational Medicine. National Board of ~L c u~a t i o n a l safeti and Health, ~1 7 i 84 Solna, SwedenMany people are occupationally exposed to cool or cold environments in which human performance and comfort may be affected. Research results on manual function and other performance measures together with certain subjective efiects relevant to work in moderate cold are reviewed. The considerable individual differences in reactions to work in the cold are highlighted. and the difficulties in establishing relationships between physiological measures of cooling, performance and sensory reactions are discussed. Ir is suggested that an integration of these three aspects is a necessary basis Tor understanding man's reactions to work in the cold and for improving equipment, training and work routines.

Hand-skin temperature and tracking performance

“…As a result, the blood flow to the extremities is reduced even when the hand is exposed to mildly cold temperatures such as 15-25 0 C. (Daanen, 1997). The reduction in blood flow may be the cause for losses in tactile sensitivity , reduced manual performance, grip strength (Holewijn and Heus, 1992;Giesbrecht et al, 1995;Geng 2001, Powell et al, 2000 and increased risk of accidents (Enander, 1984; 4 Havenith et al, 1995;Heus et al, 1995;Geng et al, 2001). Morton and Provins (1960) have found that tactile sensitivity is an L-shaped function of skin temperature and that each individual has a relatively sharp critical temperature at which performance deteriorates significantly.…”

Implementation of Cold Risk Management In Occupational Safety, Occupational Health and Quality Practices. Evaluation of a Development Process and Its Effects at the Finnish Maritime Administration

“…Cold impairs physical and mental performance in many ways. Muscle co-ordination and manual dexterity are impaired, physical load is increased, strength and velocity are decreased and postural sway is increased by cold exposure [3,4,5]. Mental performance is also affected, especially performance in complex tasks [6,7,8].…”

Effects of Wearing Gloves and Sex on Endurance Time and the Corresponding Finger Skin Temperature During a Cold Immersion

“…Manual dexterity is frequently used to evaluate hand function and is important during hand manipulation. Hand/finger skin temperature is considered a vital factor in dexterity (Schiefer et al, 1984;Enander, 1984;Enander & Hygge, 1990;Brajkovic & Ducharme, 2003, Chen et al, 2010 and hand performance (Riley & Cochran, 1984;Havenith et al, 1995, Chen et al, 2010. More importantly, such impairment may lead to an increased number of accidents (Müller, 1982; cited by Havenith et al, 1995).…”

“…Exposure to cold environments and contact with cold materials have been reported impair tactile sensitivity in the hands (Enander, 1984), hand dexterity (Schiefer et al, 1984;Riley & Cochran, 1984;Enander & Hygge, 1990;Heus et al, 1995), and tracking performance (Goonetilleke & Hoffmann, 2009). Manual dexterity is frequently used to evaluate hand function and is important during hand manipulation.…”

“…Wearing gloves could delay the reduction in FST and reduce the perception of pain (Suizu et al, 2004;Suizu & Harada, 2005), and it is supposed that wearing gloves could also extend ET. Consequently, it is worthwhile and interesting to identify the FST at the point of pain tolerance during cold immersion, for FST has been reported as a crucial factor affecting hand dexterity (Schiefer et al, 1984;Enander, 1984;Enander & Hygge, 1990;Brajkovic & Ducharme, 2003, Chen et al, 2010. Wolff (1984) defined pain tolerance as 'that point at which a subject will terminate or withdraw from noxious stimulation' and argued that tolerance measures in the laboratory are analogous to clinical pain.…”