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Measure of Work Performance Decrement Due to Respirators.

PB91185314

Publication Date	1990
Personal Author	Zimmerman, N. J.; Eberts, C.; McCabe, G.; Badylak, S.
Page Count	68
Abstract	The effects of respirator wear were determined in 12 subjects using a battery of physical, cognitive and psychomotor tasks. Three types of respirators were studied: a disposable dust mask, an air purifying half mask, and a full face airline respirator. Physical work, studied as the task of bicycle riding, indicated a 10% increase in oxygen consumption with the half and full face masks over the oxygen consumption in the control state, wearing no respirator. Respirator wear did not significantly affect the performance of cognitive tasks. The best indicators of respiratory effects on work performance decrement were the psychomotor task test methods. A steadiness task demonstrated a 31% decrement for the full face respirator condition. The One Hole Test indicated an average movement time decrement of 16%. The authors conclude that, generally, respirators produce an increase in oxygen consumption during physical tasks, and cause decrements in psychomotor performance with regard to hand movement speed and steadiness.
Keywords	Respirators Occupational safety and health Psychomotor performance Cognition Oxygen consumption Motor activity Tables(Data) Exercise Work capacity evaluation Work performance
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	95G - Protective Equipment 95D - Human Factors Engineering 41I - Job Environment 94D - Job Environment
Corporate Authors	Purdue Univ., Lafayette, IN.; National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH.
Supplemental Notes	Sponsored by National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept.
NTIS Issue Number	199116

Measure of Work Performance Decrement Due to Respirators.

Measure of Work Performance Decrement Due to Respirators.
PB91185314

Publication Date	1990
Personal Author	Zimmerman, N. J.; Eberts, C.; McCabe, G.; Badylak, S.
Page Count	68
Abstract	The effects of respirator wear were determined in 12 subjects using a battery of physical, cognitive and psychomotor tasks. Three types of respirators were studied: a disposable dust mask, an air purifying half mask, and a full face airline respirator. Physical work, studied as the task of bicycle riding, indicated a 10% increase in oxygen consumption with the half and full face masks over the oxygen consumption in the control state, wearing no respirator. Respirator wear did not significantly affect the performance of cognitive tasks. The best indicators of respiratory effects on work performance decrement were the psychomotor task test methods. A steadiness task demonstrated a 31% decrement for the full face respirator condition. The One Hole Test indicated an average movement time decrement of 16%. The authors conclude that, generally, respirators produce an increase in oxygen consumption during physical tasks, and cause decrements in psychomotor performance with regard to hand movement speed and steadiness.
Keywords	Respirators Occupational safety and health Psychomotor performance Cognition Oxygen consumption Motor activity Tables(Data) Exercise Work capacity evaluation Work performance
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	95G - Protective Equipment 95D - Human Factors Engineering 41I - Job Environment 94D - Job Environment
Corporate Authors	Purdue Univ., Lafayette, IN.; National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH.
Supplemental Notes	Sponsored by National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept.
NTIS Issue Number	199116