A new occupational heat tolerance test: A feasibility study

Emily R Watkins; Jemma Gibbons; Yanoula Dellas; Mark Hayes; Peter Watt; Alan J Richardson

doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.09.001

A new occupational heat tolerance test: A feasibility study

Emily R Watkins, Jemma Gibbons, Yanoula Dellas, Mark Hayes, Peter Watt, Alan J Richardson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Heat tolerance tests identify those susceptible to heat illnesses and monitor heat adaptations. Currently, tolerance tests do not replicate the uncompensable heat strain environments experienced in some occupations. In addition, tests can take up to 2 h to complete, and cannot offer intra and inter individual comparisons, due to the use of a fixed exercise intensity. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of a new heat occupational tolerance test (HOTT: 40 min at 6 W kg-1 metabolic heat production, 50 °C 10% RH, in protective clothing) to the standard heat tolerance test (HTT: 2 h walk at 5 km h-1 1% gradient, 40 °C 40% RH, in shorts and t-shirt). Eighteen participants (age: 21 ± 3 yrs, body mass: 81.3 ± 5.9 kg) completed trials to assess the validity and/or reliability of the HOTT. Peak rectal temperature (Tre) displayed strong agreement and low measurement error (0.19 °C) between HTT (38.7 ± 0.4 °C) and HOTT (38.6 ± 0.4 °C). Strong agreement was also displayed for physiological and perceptual measures between the two HOTT trials, including peak Tre (38.5 ± 0.4 °C vs. 38.5 ± 0.4 °C) and peak heart rate (182 ± 20 b min-1 vs. 182 ± 21 b min-1). The HOTT is the first tolerance test that assesses individuals' responses whilst wearing protective clothing in high temperatures. It can consistently identify individuals' levels of heat tolerance within a reduced time frame. In addition, it allows for participant monitoring over time and comparisons between individuals to be made. A continuum based approach is recommended when assessing individuals' responses to the HOTT.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	42-50
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of thermal biology
Volume	78
Early online date	5 Sept 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.09.001
Publication status	Published - Dec 2018

Keywords

Body Temperature
Feasibility Studies
Heat Stress Disorders
Humans
Male
Monitoring, Physiologic
Occupational Diseases
Random Allocation
Respiration
Thermotolerance
Young Adult
Journal Article

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10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.09.001

Cite this

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title = "A new occupational heat tolerance test: A feasibility study",

abstract = "Heat tolerance tests identify those susceptible to heat illnesses and monitor heat adaptations. Currently, tolerance tests do not replicate the uncompensable heat strain environments experienced in some occupations. In addition, tests can take up to 2 h to complete, and cannot offer intra and inter individual comparisons, due to the use of a fixed exercise intensity. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of a new heat occupational tolerance test (HOTT: 40 min at 6 W kg-1 metabolic heat production, 50 °C 10% RH, in protective clothing) to the standard heat tolerance test (HTT: 2 h walk at 5 km h-1 1% gradient, 40 °C 40% RH, in shorts and t-shirt). Eighteen participants (age: 21 ± 3 yrs, body mass: 81.3 ± 5.9 kg) completed trials to assess the validity and/or reliability of the HOTT. Peak rectal temperature (Tre) displayed strong agreement and low measurement error (0.19 °C) between HTT (38.7 ± 0.4 °C) and HOTT (38.6 ± 0.4 °C). Strong agreement was also displayed for physiological and perceptual measures between the two HOTT trials, including peak Tre (38.5 ± 0.4 °C vs. 38.5 ± 0.4 °C) and peak heart rate (182 ± 20 b min-1 vs. 182 ± 21 b min-1). The HOTT is the first tolerance test that assesses individuals' responses whilst wearing protective clothing in high temperatures. It can consistently identify individuals' levels of heat tolerance within a reduced time frame. In addition, it allows for participant monitoring over time and comparisons between individuals to be made. A continuum based approach is recommended when assessing individuals' responses to the HOTT.",

keywords = "Body Temperature, Feasibility Studies, Heat Stress Disorders, Humans, Male, Monitoring, Physiologic, Occupational Diseases, Random Allocation, Respiration, Thermotolerance, Young Adult, Journal Article",

author = "Watkins, {Emily R} and Jemma Gibbons and Yanoula Dellas and Mark Hayes and Peter Watt and Richardson, {Alan J}",

year = "2018",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.09.001",

language = "English",

volume = "78",

pages = "42--50",

journal = "Journal of thermal biology",

issn = "0306-4565",

publisher = "Elsevier",

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T1 - A new occupational heat tolerance test

T2 - A feasibility study

AU - Watkins, Emily R

AU - Gibbons, Jemma

AU - Dellas, Yanoula

AU - Hayes, Mark

AU - Watt, Peter

AU - Richardson, Alan J

PY - 2018/12

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N2 - Heat tolerance tests identify those susceptible to heat illnesses and monitor heat adaptations. Currently, tolerance tests do not replicate the uncompensable heat strain environments experienced in some occupations. In addition, tests can take up to 2 h to complete, and cannot offer intra and inter individual comparisons, due to the use of a fixed exercise intensity. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of a new heat occupational tolerance test (HOTT: 40 min at 6 W kg-1 metabolic heat production, 50 °C 10% RH, in protective clothing) to the standard heat tolerance test (HTT: 2 h walk at 5 km h-1 1% gradient, 40 °C 40% RH, in shorts and t-shirt). Eighteen participants (age: 21 ± 3 yrs, body mass: 81.3 ± 5.9 kg) completed trials to assess the validity and/or reliability of the HOTT. Peak rectal temperature (Tre) displayed strong agreement and low measurement error (0.19 °C) between HTT (38.7 ± 0.4 °C) and HOTT (38.6 ± 0.4 °C). Strong agreement was also displayed for physiological and perceptual measures between the two HOTT trials, including peak Tre (38.5 ± 0.4 °C vs. 38.5 ± 0.4 °C) and peak heart rate (182 ± 20 b min-1 vs. 182 ± 21 b min-1). The HOTT is the first tolerance test that assesses individuals' responses whilst wearing protective clothing in high temperatures. It can consistently identify individuals' levels of heat tolerance within a reduced time frame. In addition, it allows for participant monitoring over time and comparisons between individuals to be made. A continuum based approach is recommended when assessing individuals' responses to the HOTT.

AB - Heat tolerance tests identify those susceptible to heat illnesses and monitor heat adaptations. Currently, tolerance tests do not replicate the uncompensable heat strain environments experienced in some occupations. In addition, tests can take up to 2 h to complete, and cannot offer intra and inter individual comparisons, due to the use of a fixed exercise intensity. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of a new heat occupational tolerance test (HOTT: 40 min at 6 W kg-1 metabolic heat production, 50 °C 10% RH, in protective clothing) to the standard heat tolerance test (HTT: 2 h walk at 5 km h-1 1% gradient, 40 °C 40% RH, in shorts and t-shirt). Eighteen participants (age: 21 ± 3 yrs, body mass: 81.3 ± 5.9 kg) completed trials to assess the validity and/or reliability of the HOTT. Peak rectal temperature (Tre) displayed strong agreement and low measurement error (0.19 °C) between HTT (38.7 ± 0.4 °C) and HOTT (38.6 ± 0.4 °C). Strong agreement was also displayed for physiological and perceptual measures between the two HOTT trials, including peak Tre (38.5 ± 0.4 °C vs. 38.5 ± 0.4 °C) and peak heart rate (182 ± 20 b min-1 vs. 182 ± 21 b min-1). The HOTT is the first tolerance test that assesses individuals' responses whilst wearing protective clothing in high temperatures. It can consistently identify individuals' levels of heat tolerance within a reduced time frame. In addition, it allows for participant monitoring over time and comparisons between individuals to be made. A continuum based approach is recommended when assessing individuals' responses to the HOTT.

KW - Body Temperature

KW - Feasibility Studies

KW - Heat Stress Disorders

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Monitoring, Physiologic

KW - Occupational Diseases

KW - Random Allocation

KW - Respiration

KW - Thermotolerance

KW - Young Adult

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.09.001

DO - 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.09.001

M3 - Article

C2 - 30509666

SN - 0306-4565

VL - 78

SP - 42

EP - 50

JO - Journal of thermal biology

JF - Journal of thermal biology

ER -