Physical workload and cardiopulmonary parameters in relation to individual capacity of bulk waste workers - a cross-sectional field-study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Waste collection is considered particularly heavy work, although no previous study has yet investigated the strain of bulk waste collection. The aim of this study is to determine the workload of bulk waste workers in practice.

Method

We conducted a cross-sectional field-study. Fourteen male volunteers from the bulk waste collection of the municipal sanitation department in Hamburg, Germany, were included. Performance was determined by cardiopulmonary exercise testing under laboratory conditions. During the shift, each worker was accompanied by a researcher, and heart rate (HR) was recorded under field conditions using an HR watch with a belt system. We examined mean HR, relative heart rate (RHR), relative aerobic strain (RAS), calculated oxygen uptake ([Formula: see

SUBMITTER: Kraft AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10724959 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature