Pages 334-336 in G. Pétursdóttir et al., eds. Circumpolar Health 93. Proceedings of the 9th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Reykjavík, Iceland, June 20-25, 1993. Arctic Medical Research. 1994;53(Suppl.2)
Oulu Regional Institute of Occupational Health, Oulu, Finland
Veitsiluoto Oy, Kemi, Finland
Source
Pages 334-336 in G. Pétursdóttir et al., eds. Circumpolar Health 93. Proceedings of the 9th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Reykjavík, Iceland, June 20-25, 1993. Arctic Medical Research. 1994;53(Suppl.2)
The aim of the present work was to study, using a questionnaire, at which ambient temperature the forestry workers subjectively experience the disadvantages caused by cold. The disadvantages were classified according to criteria of thermophysiology, physical performance, and health. Three levels were used: discomfort, performance degradation, and health problems. The questionnaire was mailed to 490 forestry workers, 347 (71%) of whom responded. The results show that workers (who had experienced cold as harmful moderately often or more frequently) experienced cold as discomfortable on average at -19.4 ± 7.0 degrees C (mean ± SD). Performance degradation was experienced at -23.3 ± 5.7 degrees C and health problems at -24.7 ± 6.7 degrees C. Similar problems were experienced, on average, at a 1 degree C higher temperature traveling to work and from work, and a 4 degree C higher temperature during pauses.