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Document ID (ISN)53443
CIS number 90-670
ISSN - Serial title 0355-3140 - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
Year 1989
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Enander A.E.
Title Effects of thermal stress on human performance
Bibliographic information 1989, Vol.15, Supp.1, p.27-33. 63 ref.
Abstract Paper presented at the 3rd International Conference on Environmental Ergonomics (Helsinki, 8-12 Aug. 1988). Experimental evidence indicates that even relatively mild thermal stress may affect human performance. Tasks requiring manual dexterity and muscular strength are clearly impaired by cold exposure, while decrements in vigilance performance and endurance are well documented effects of heat stress. The considerable variation in results regarding the effects of thermal stress may, to some extent, be attributable to complex interactions between exposure conditions, task characteristics, and individual factors. In the present paper the relevance of some of the earlier research work on heat and cold stress is evaluated in the light of the practical and theoretical implications of more recent findings. Current work regarding the nature and extent of the effects of thermal stress on more complex performance is discussed. Attention is also focused on the significance of individual skill and training experience for performance under unfavourable conditions.
Descriptors (primary) cold stress; perceptual-motor performance; heat load; vigilance tasks
Descriptors (secondary) individual variables; stress evaluation; heat; cold; thermal environment
Document type D - Periodical articles
Subject(s) Heating, ventilation and climate
Broad subject area(s) Physiology, ergonomics
Browse category(ies) Heat and cold
Vigilance