An investigation of heat stress effects on time-sharing performance

    Authors

    I. Vasmatzidis; R. E. Schlegel;P. A. Hancock

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Ergonomics

    Keywords

    heat stress; time-sharing; dual-task performance; multiple-task; performance; HIGH-TEMPERATURE; COMPLEX PERFORMANCE; MENTAL PERFORMANCE; MULTIPLE-RESOURCES; TASK-PERFORMANCE; BODY TEMPERATURE; TOLERANCE; LIMITS; HUMID CONDITIONS; VIGILANCE; EXPOSURE; Engineering, Industrial; Ergonomics; Psychology, Applied; Psychology

    Abstract

    A study was conducted to investigate the effects of heat stress on time-sharing performance. Twelve participants performed three dual-task scenarios and a multiple-task scenario for 2 h in each of six climates. The climates were obtained by generating each of three wet bulb globe temperatures (WBGT; 22, 28 and 34degreesC) with two relative humidity levels (30 and 70%). The dual tasks selected from the Criterion Task Set (CTS) were: (1) display monitoring with mathematical processing; (2) memory search with mathematical processing; and (3) unstable tracking with memory search. The multiple task scenario was generated using the SYNTASK software. The results indicated a significant heat stress effect on CTS display monitoring and unstable tracking performance and on the SYNTASK visual monitoring and auditory discrimination tasks. Additionally, at 34degreesC WBGT, 70% relative humidity was more detrimental to performance than 30% relative humidity. Results were interpreted using the Maximal Adaptability Model and Shingledecker's information processing stage/resource framework. To describe the results in an orderly manner, the authors propose the concept of heat stress selectivity effects. In addition, the results were used to evaluate whether the most recent NIOSH recommended heat stress standard, which is based solely on physiological and medical criteria, protects time-sharing performance. It was concluded that the NIOSH criterion does offer protection up to 28degreesC WBGT.

    Journal Title

    Ergonomics

    Volume

    45

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2002

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    218

    Last Page

    239

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000175200600004

    ISSN

    0014-0139

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