1st Edition

Physiology Of Work

By Kaare Rodahl Copyright 1990

    This text focuses on the applied physiology of work in modern industry. After covering the biological background to work physiology and its relationship to work psychology and occupational medicine it goes on to explore the problems encountered via case studies. Rodhal describes methods for assessment of individual work capacities and workloads, and evaluation of working environments. Further chapters highlight: mental and emotional stresses, including case studies from management and air-traffic controllers; industrial heat and cold stress, with studies of polar and sea-going workers; and problems encountered in polluted atmospheres.

    Part 1 The biological basis for human work. Part 2 Work physiology. Part 3 Problem areas in the field of work physiology: service functions; training and adaptation; somatic factors; psychic factors; nature of work to be performed; environment. Part 4 Methods for the assessment of physical work capacity, physical work load and working environment: assessment of an individual's maximal work capacity; assessment of work load; assessment of muscular work loads. Part 5 Methods for the assessment of the working environment: the assessment of thermal stress; assessment of lighting conditions; assessment of noise levels; assessment of local and whole-body vibration; ambulatory assessment of blood pressure, muscle tension and heart rate; assessment of air pollution. Part 6 Mental And Emotional Stress: Examples Of Stress At The Place Of work. Part 7 The stress of management: personal interviews; heart rate and time-activity logging; medical examination. Part 8 Shiftwork, circadian rhythms and transmeridian dyschronism: circadian rhythms; shiftwork; transmeridian dyschronism. Part 9 The stress of air traffic controllers: review of previous studies; assessment of the work stress; medical examination. Part 10 Industrial heat stress: field studies of industrial heat stress; health hazards of industrial heat exposure; application of existing knowledge. Part 11 Working in the cold: physiological adjustments to cold stress; arctic coal mining; protective clothing; cross-country skiing. Part 12 The physiology of fishing: coastal fishing; trawler fishing; bank fishing; capelin fishing; energy expenditure in modern fishermen compared with Eskimo seal hunters. Part 13 Stress at sea: our own studies of stress at sea; the use of ship simulators. Part 14 Muscle tension: mental tension and myoelectrical feedback. Part 15 Working in a carbon monoxide polluted atmosphere: assessment of the CO-content of the ambient air; assessment of pulmonary ventialtion; assessment of actual CO-uptake.

    Biography

    Formerly Director of the Institute of Work Physiology in Oslo, Professor Kaare Rodahl has studied physiology, work and exercise for forty years in the USA and Norway. He has written widely on these subjects and has a particular interest in the polar environment.