Physiological strain during kitchen work in relation to maximal and task-specific peak values

Abstract

Six female and three male subjects from a hospital kitchen volunteered for the study. The subjects were working on a conveyor belt collecting and sorting dirty plates, glasses and cutlery for cleaning. In the study, a medical examination, a maximal clinical exercise test with a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and a maximal arm cranking test were performed in the laboratory. Further, each subject was studied for 30 min during a normal work shift in the kitchen. Oxygen uptake (VO₂) and heart rate (HR) were continuously registered. During the work period, a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was asked at the 5th, 15th and 30th minute. Physiological responses were measured by a portable system (K4) both in the laboratory and in the field. VO₂ and HR measured in the field were proportioned to corresponding maximal values during cycling and to peak values during arm-cranking. The mean VO₂ for the male and the female subjects during kitchen work was 0.65±0.16 l min^-1. This corresponded to 24% of VO_2max and to 41% of VO_2peak during arm-cranking. The difference was significant (p<0.001). Owing to a magnetic field at the conveyor belt, reliable HR values were obtained only from the female subjects. The mean HR during work among the female subjects was 101 beats min^-1. It corresponded to 55% of HRmax and 67% of HR during arm-cranking (p<0.05). The present study shows that the peak relative work intensity is markedly higher when it is expressed relative to the corresponding muscle group's VO_2peak instead of the VO_2max. Similar difference was also seen in the HR response. More task-specific testing of physical capacity may provide improved evaluation of physical strain in a job.

Keywords:

• Kitchen Work
• Physiological Strain
• Relative Strain
• Task-specific.