Incomodidad y rendimiento laboral en el trabajo expuesto al frio extremo / Workers’ discomfort andoutput when exposed to extreme cold in everyday working conditions

Objetivos: Estudiar la sintomatología dolorosa y la capacidad aerobia máxima y su influencia en la percepción de frío de trabajadores expuestos a frio extremo en cuartos de liofilización. Métodos: Operarios de cuartos de liofilización fueron sometidos a un test de VO2max y adicionalmente diligienciaron las versiones en español del Health-Check Questionnaire For Subjects Exposed To Cold y del Standarised Nordic Questionnaire For The Analysys Of Musculoskeletal Symptoms. Resultados: El VO2max no tiene relación con la percepción de incomodidad por causa del frío en el puesto de trabajo. El rendimiento laboral en el frío extremo no resulta afectado por el nivel de VO2max del sujeto. En cuanto a la prevalencia de signos y síntomas, la población de trabajadores reporta con mayor frecuencia aumento en la excreción de moco y problemas respiratorios. Conclusiones: El VO2max no afecta la percepción de frío ni el rendimiento laboral en trabajadores expuestos a temperaturas extremadamente frías.

Objectives: Examining workers’ painful symptoms and maximum aerobic capacity and the influence of such factors on their perception of cold when exposed to extreme cold in lyophilisation rooms. Methods: Lyophilisation room workers were subjected to an ergometric test and also completed the Spanish version of the Health-check questionnaire for subjects exposed to cold (Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Finland)and the Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms(Institute of Occupational Health, Department of Physiology, Helsinki, Finland). Results: VO2max was not related to a perception of cold-related discomfort in the workplace. Work performance when exposed to extreme cold was not affected by VO2maxlevel. Concerning the prevalence of signs and symptoms, the most frequently reported symptom was increased mucus excretion. Conclusions: VO2max did not affect workers’ perception of cold or their work output when exposed to extremely cold temperatures.

[Workers' discomfort and output when exposed to extreme cold in everyday working conditions]. / Incomodidad y rendimiento laboral en el trabajo expuesto al frio extremo.

OBJECTIVES: Examining workers' painful symptoms and maximum aerobic capacity and the influence of such factors on their perception of cold when exposed to extreme cold in lyophilisation rooms. METHODS: Lyophilisation room workers were subjected to an ergometric test and also completed the Spanish version of the Health-check questionnaire for subjects exposed to cold (Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Finland)and the Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms(Institute of Occupational Health, Department of Physiology, Helsinki, Finland). RESULTS: VO2max was not related to a perception of cold-related discomfort in the workplace. Work performance when exposed to extreme cold was not affected by VO2maxlevel. Concerning the prevalence of signs and symptoms, the most frequently reported symptom was increased mucus excretion. CONCLUSIONS: VO2max did not affect workers' perception of cold or their work output when exposed to extremely cold temperatures.