The Psychological and Physiological Effects of Air-Conditioned Wear and Other Functions on Construction Workers

Abstract

To decrease the number of casualties due to heatstroke, we studied the effects of air-conditioned wear (ACW) and the differences of working hours between morning and afternoon on the physiological and psychological responses of construction workers in summer. The effects of ACW on both the psychological and physiological responses such as skin and tympanic temperature of workers at outdoor construction site were significantly estimated. The differences between the skin and tympanic temperatures of workers at indoor construction site with and without ACW were so small, that the only significant differences between those with and without ACW were psychological responses.

Effect of ventilated workwear and working schedule on physiological and psychological responses of construction workers, no. 2: Actual investigation at an active construction site

“…We verify in detail whether thermal stress and dehydration of workers depend on the WS at the CS, which is a problem presented in the previous study. 6 The study findings are expected to contribute toward improving the drinking frequency and WS of CWs.…”

“…Before starting work in the morning, the participants wore an electrocardiograph (chest band), button‐type thermometer (4 points: forearm, chest, thigh, and lower leg skin), wristband type life recorder (left wrist), 6 and HR monitor (right wrist). Work at the construction site was generally performed from 08:00 to 17:00, and this was divided into four periods with breaks (AM1: 8:00 to 10:00, AM2: 10:30 to 12:00, PM1: 13:00 to 15:00, and PM2: 15:30 to 17:00).…”

“…In a previous study, the authors evaluated the effects of factors such as VWW and working schedule (WS) on the physiological and psychological responses of construction workers (CWs) (indoors: interior workers/plumbers; outdoors: rebar) at CSs in Tokyo from July to August 2016. 6 Although the effect of VWW was identified in the psychological response, its effect on the physiological response was established only in four parameters (outdoors: mean skin temperature (MST), inner ear temperature, walking, indoors: board and plumbing work). Although the outdoor mean radiant temperature was significantly lower in the afternoon than in the morning, the MST of outdoor CWs was found to be significantly higher in the afternoon than in the morning.…”

“…Therefore, the present study aims to verify the effect of VWW, which was confirmed in the AC experiment, on the MST and local skin temperature at an actual CS. In particular, weight loss, which was not measured at the CS in the previous report, 6 is measured, and the effects of factors, namely VWW and WS on weight loss are examined. We verify in detail whether thermal stress and dehydration of workers depend on the WS at the CS, which is a problem presented in the previous study 6 .…”

“…In particular, weight loss, which was not measured at the CS in the previous report, 6 is measured, and the effects of factors, namely VWW and WS on weight loss are examined. We verify in detail whether thermal stress and dehydration of workers depend on the WS at the CS, which is a problem presented in the previous study 6 . The study findings are expected to contribute toward improving the drinking frequency and WS of CWs.…”