Physiological Significance of Rest Allowences : It's Application in Industry

Abstract

High-intensity work can be specified as any physical activity that mobilizes contraction of large Muscle groups and requires oxygen uptake (VO2) of at least 50% of the maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max). The anaerobic energy-yielding metabolic process plays an increasing role in high-intensity work, because the lactate threshold occurring between 40% and 60% of the VO2max for most untrained individuals [15]. In other words, the VO2max and heart rate (HR) will increase continuously instead of reaching a steady state when someone is engaged in a high-intensity work task. The continuous increase in heart rate brings potential hazards and adherent problems associated with high-intensity activities [15]. To evaluate the workload in industrial practice, guidelines about acceptable workload duration for certain types of work is important. Several studies have suggested that the acceptable workload for an eight-hour workday is about 30~40% of the maximum aerobic capacity (VO2max). The acceptable workload, which can be expressed by %VO2max, is the workload that can be sustained by an individual for an eight-hour work day in a physiologically steady state and which will not cause fatigue or discomfort. For different workloads, the acceptable work duration should be changed accordingly. It is nice to see the common kitchen operation has also relevance to rest allowances. We find from various literatures that many industrial operations are carried out in high energetic, hostile environmental conditions causing excessive physiological fatigue among industrial operators [1, 2, 3]. This excessive physiological fatigue is a main factor in reducing industrial productivity, high accident rate, more over low performance among industrial operators. Unless we address this issue industrial safety, health, productivity is in stack. Loss of industrial profit, inter industrial relation and many more. Other specialties are of no use in combating such high physiological fatigue, strains at shop floor [5,6] Most scientific way to tackle all such situation is considering rest allowances in all such operations [1,2,3,4]. All most all over the world rest allowances are practice in steel plant, forging, smelting shop, etc as routine harvesting much benefit, science it is restricted only some particular sections and appreciably administrative support much hue and cry is not seen.