Use of proper personal protective equipment, can reduce workload of forestry workers, depends on working conditions. In order to identify differences between protective clothing systems (summer, transitional, winter), a study using a cycling-ergometer measuring several psychophysical indexes was conducted. The results show no differences in the amount of lactic acid in blood, or the temperature measured in the individual´s ear prior and after the trial, however significant differences occur in body mass. Moreover, there is relation between the duration of the test and consumption of energy. The ergometer´s resistance (measured in Watts) caused significant differences to the measured indexes.
There are significant differences between the heart rate measurements while using different types of clothes, except summer and transitional system. However, there are no differences between the results measuring skin´s conductivity in transitional and winter systems, nor between the summer and winter equipment. Differences between the systems were measured also in skin temperature, while using summer and winter equipment, and by using summer and transitional equipment. Even so, there were no significant differences between the equipment systems while evaluating breathing frequency.
|
