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Changes in physical performance among construction workers during extended workweeks with 12-hour workdays

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate changes of physical performance during long working hours and extended workweeks among construction workers with temporary accommodation in camps.

Methods

Nineteen construction workers with 12-h workdays and extended workweeks participated. Physical performance in the morning and evening of the second and eleventh workdays was tested by endurance, ability to react to a sudden load, flexibility of the back, handgrip strength and sub-maximal HR during a bicycle test. HR was registered throughout two separate workdays.

Results

HR during each of the two separate workdays corresponded to a relative workload of 25%. Sub-maximal HR was lower, reaction time faster and handgrip strength higher in the end of each test day. In the end of the work period, sub-maximal HR was lower, reaction time faster and sitting balance was better.

Conclusion

No trends of decreased physical performance were found after a workday or a work period.

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Acknowledgments

The project was financed by a special bill “Satspuljen 1999, pt. 6” from Folketinget, The Danish Parliament: account FS 17.21.05.30. Contractors for the bill were Centre for Alternative Social Analysis and Carl Bro A/S. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Park Alle 105, 2100 Kbh Ø, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Anne Faber, Jesper Strøyer, Nis Hjortskov & Bente Schibye

Authors
  1. Anne Faber
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  2. Jesper Strøyer
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  3. Nis Hjortskov
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  4. Bente Schibye
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne Faber.

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Faber, A., Strøyer, J., Hjortskov, N. et al. Changes in physical performance among construction workers during extended workweeks with 12-hour workdays. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 83, 1–8 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0471-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0471-0

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