Physical

Ergonomics
Work Physiology
ENGR. PRINCESS ARIANNE E. ESMANA
 Introduction
Learning Objectives
What is Work Physiology?
Outline Metabolism
Basal Metabolic Rate
Energy Expenditure
Rest Periods

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Introduction
Physical work activities are still common in developing countries where
mechanization has yet to pay off in the light of easily available labor. Even the
physical work demands in manufacturing have been substantially reduced, there are
still many situations which require ergonomic analysis. Furthermore, people perform
widely different tasks in daily work situations. For example, in the construction
industry materials are typically carried by workers. These tasks must be matched
with human capabilities to avoid “underloading”, in which human capacities are not
utilized properly, as well as “overloading”, which may cause the employee to break
down and suffer reduced performance capability or even permanent damage.

In this module, we will discuss the other aspect in physical ergonomics which is
work physiology. Work physiology is a phase in industrial engineering that considers
metabolic cost, measurement and prevention of work strain, and other ergonomic
factors in the design of tasks and workplaces.

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Learning Objectives
UPON COMPLETION OF THIS MODULE THE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:

[Link] the impact of 2. Use biomechanical

physical load, biological and physiological

variation and approaches and criteria

biomechanics on proper to quantify physical

exposures and assess
safe working condition.
risk within tasks.

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
What is Work Physiology ?
Physiology - a branch of biology concerned with the vital processes of living organisms and
how their constituent tissues and cells function.
Work physiology is a term associated with industrial engineering that is
concerned how the human body copes with physical stress, work strain, and the
working environment.
Experts in this field study the physical toll that work takes on a person in order
to minimize it. They need to understand how the body performs under a variety
of environmental conditions, the amount of rest it requires, and when it can
work at peak levels.
This branch of physiology also studies the changes that result in the human
body as a result of being exposed to single or multiple instances of work stress.

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Capacity for Physical Work
One of the main reasons for taking an interest in work physiology is to consider variations
in work capacity between individuals. One important difference is physical condition.

A highly trained individual (such as a marathon runner) can sustain 50% of the maximal
aerobic capacity for an 8-hour work-day; an average individual can sustain 35%, and an
untrained individual 25%.

Chronological age is a fairly poor determinant of work capacity. A definite conclusion is

that the variability between individuals increases with age.

Metabolism, respiration, and circulation are just a few of the body systems that
physiologist's study. They also examine skeletal, muscular, and cardiovascular activity of
human.
Metabolism

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
 “Energy to perform
physical activity is
provided by metabolism”

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
What is Metabolism?
Metabolism is defined as the conversion of foodstuffs into
mechanical work and heat (Astrand, Rodahl, Dahl, and Stromme,
2003).

In order to be useful to the body, the foodstuff is converted into

a high-energy compound adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP
serves as a fuel transport mechanism. It can release chemical
energy to fuel internal work in the various body organs.

It is the sum of the biochemical reactions that occur in the cells

of living organisms.

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Functions of Metabolism

[Link] energy for 2. Assimilate or

vital processes and integrate new organic
activities, including material into the body.
muscle contraction.

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
 Types of Metabolism

Basal metabolism Activity metabolism Digestive metabolism

energy used only to sustain the energy associated with physical energy used for digestion
vital circulatory and respiratory activity
functions

Daily metabolic rates:

TMRd= BMRd+ AMRd+ DMRd
WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Energy Expenditure
Rates

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Energy Expenditure
Rates
 Metabolism at
Work
Once work has begun, it takes some time for the
metabolism to catch up with the energy expenditure of the
muscles that are engaged in work.
In fact, metabolism does not reach a stable level until
several minutes after work has begun. The amount of time
taken depends upon how hard the work is but is typically
about 5 minutes.
Thus, the metabolic activity (or oxygen uptake) does not
increase suddenly at the start of work. Rather, there is a
gradual, smooth increase in oxygen.

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Work Activity and Energy
Expenditure

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Oxygen Debt
Difference between amount of oxygen needed by muscles
during physical activity and amount of oxygen supplied

There is a time lag before the body can respond to

increased need for oxygen

Oxygen debt must be repaid, so when activity stops,

breathing and heart rate continue at high levels
WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Basal Metabolic
Rate
WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
A person’s Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the daily amount of
energy their body requires if at rest in a comfortable environment.
BMR is the number of calories required to keep your body
functioning at rest.
This energy is used to support the functioning of the human body.
Some processes that factor into the BMR of a person are things
like breathing, blood circulation, nerve function, brain activity,
and support of vital organs.
The energy used or “burned” in these processes generally ends up
in the form of heat consumed by the body.

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
“Basal metabolic rate is the
number of calories your
body needs to accomplish
its most basic (basal) life-
sustaining functions.”

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
The basal metabolic rate: depends on the individual’s weight, gender, heredity,
percentage of body fat, etc.
For a 20-year old male, BMRh/kg: 1.0 kcal per kg of body weight
For a 20-year old female, BMRh/kg: 0.9 kcal per kg of body weight
Note:
Age correction: subtract 2% for each decade above 20 years,
Therefore:
BMRh/kg = Basal metabolic rate of a 20-year old female X (1 - Age
correction)(weight)

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
 Example 1 Example 2

Given: 27-year-old woman Given: 40-year-old man

who weighs 52 kg. who weighs 70 kg.
Determine the daily basal Determine the daily basal
metabolism rate per minute. metabolism rate per
minute.

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
 Example 1 Example 2
BMRh/kg = 0.9(1 - 0.014) = BMRh/kg = 1.0(1 - 0.04) =
0.8874 kcal/hr 0.96kcal/hr/kg of body
For 24 hours: weight
BMRd = 0.8874(52)(24) = For 24 hours:
1107.4752 kcal/day BMRd = 0.96(70)(24) =
1612.8 kcal/day
BMRm = 1107.4752/((24)
(60)) = 0.77 kcal/min BMRm = 1612.8/((24)(60)) =
1.12 kcal/min
WORK PHYSIOLOGY
 Energy
Expenditure
WORK PHYSIOLOGY
 Energy
When we consume plant and animal products, the carbohydrates,
fats, and protein (energy-containing macronutrients) are broken
down during digestion, releasing energy and nutrients.
Some of the energy from these foods is used immediately for
various body functions, and some is stored as energy to be used
at a later time.
As the intensity of work increases, energy requirements also
increase. For example, if we exercise at low intensity for 10
minutes, the amount of energy expended will be far less than if we
exercise at high intensity for 10 minutes.
The use of energy during work is referred to as energy
expenditure (EE).

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
 Energy
Energy is measured in units called calories.
Most of the food we eat contains energy, and
everything we do (even sleeping) requires
energy, resulting in caloric expenditure.
The measure of the energy value in food and
physical activity is expressed in several forms:
kilocalorie (kcal) or Calorie (equal to 1000
calories).
1 kcal = 1000 calories WORK PHYSIOLOGY
 Energy Expenditure
Energy expenditure is the amount of energy that a person needs
to carry out physical functions such as breathing, circulating
blood, digesting food, or exercising.
Energy is measured in calories, and your total daily energy
expenditure (TDEE) is the number of calories you burn each
day.
To prevent weight gain, energy intake must be balanced with
energy expenditure.
Note: The energy found in food is measured in kilocalories, or
calories as we commonly refer to them.

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Energy Expenditure
The human body spends energy for many different purposes, such
as life-sustaining metabolic functions, digestion, and physical
activity. Regardless of the purpose for which the body spends
energy, the energy expenditure will fall within one of the following
three categories:
-basal or resting metabolic rate (BMR or RMR)
-thermic effect of food (TEF)
-energy expenditure of activity (EEA)

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Energy Expenditure

Basal or resting Thermic effect of food (TEF) is Energy expenditure of activity

the energy required to process (EEA) or Activity metabolism
metabolic rate (BMR or
the food we eat. Approximately rate is the amount of energy
RMR) is the amount of
10% of the calories in a meal needed to fuel body movement
energy per minute the are used to digest, metabolize, as it occurs in activities of daily
body uses to maintain a and store the food just eaten. living, including exercise.
quiet resting state.
Digestive Metabolism = 10% Daily metabolic rates:
(BMR + AMR) TMRd= BMRd+ AMRd+ DMRd

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Energy Expenditure Rate
RECOMMENDED ENERGY
EXPENDITURE

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
 Energy Expenditure Rates
The energy expenditure rates are assumed to be
for a person who weighs 72 kg (160 lb).
If a person’s weight differs from 72 kg (160 lb),
then an adjustment should be made by
multiplying the ER value by the ratio:
a) W/72 if the weight is given in kg; or
b) W/160 if the weight is given in lb.

where, W = the person’s body weight.

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Example 1 (Energy Expenditure Rates)
Given:
35-year-old and 130 lb woman
Sleeps 8 hours
Walks to and from work for 1 hour at 4.5 km/hr
Stands for 2 hours
Performs soldering work for 6 hours while seated
Watches TV and rests for 7 hr

Determine her total metabolic rate for 24- hour period

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
ANSWER TO THE EXAMPLE GIVEN:

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
REFERENCE TABLE:

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Example 2 (Energy Expenditure Rates)
A worker is 40 years old and weighs 160 lb. He sleeps 8 hours each night
during which time his average energy expenditure rate is assumed to be at the
basal metabolic rate. The physical requirements of his job result in an average
energy expenditure rate of 4 kcal/min over the 8-hour shift. During his
remaining non-working, non-sleeping hours, his activity level results in an
energy expenditure rate that averages 1.7 kcal/min. His digestive metabolism
is assumed to be 10 percent of the total of his basal and activity metabolic
rates over the 24-hour period of the day. What is his daily total metabolic
rate?

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
ANSWER TO THE EXAMPLE GIVEN:

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Rest Periods

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Rest Periods

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Rest Periods

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
 Example 1 Example 2
A male worker performs a task
A worker is shoveling sand at
during the four hours of the
a rate of 8 kcal/min. How morning that has an energy
much rest does he need expenditure rate of 6.0 kcal/min.
during an 8-hour shift? How Determine how much of this four-
should the rest be allocated? hour period should be allowed for
rest breaks. Determine the work
time.
WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Answer 1:

Answer 2:

SOCIAL MEDIA | QUARTERLY REPORT DECEMBER 2020

 Example 3

A female worker performs physical labor that has an energy

expenditure rate of 4.8 kcal/min for 35 minutes. During the rest
breaks, his energy expenditure rate is estimated to be 0.95
kcal/min. Determine an appropriate length of a rest break.

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Answer 3:
The energy expenditure rate of the physical activity at the
maximum time-weighted average during shift for female worker:
4 kcal/min.

Trst= [35(4.8 – 4.0)]/(4.0 – 0.95) = 28/3.05 = 9.18 mins or 9

mins

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Time-weighted Average Energy
Expenditure Rate

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Example (Time-weighted Ave. ER)
A male worker performs a repetitive task that requires an energy
expenditure rate of 7.5 kcal/min for 4.0 hours. Each hour, he
works 40 minutes and takes a 20-min rest break. During the rest
breaks, his energy expenditure rate is estimated to be 1.5
kcal/min. Determine the time-weighted average energy
expenditure.

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Answer:

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Example (Time-weighted Ave. ER)
Answer:

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
“Physical workload can be evaluated
in terms of the physiological cost to
the worker of carrying out the work.
Oxygen consumption and heart rate
are objective measures of workload.”

WORK PHYSIOLOGY
 Despite the global trend to replace
manual work with mechanized and
automated systems, physiological
aspects of work design are of great
importance in view of the modern
interest in eliminating avoidable ill-
health. In low-technology jobs, the
problems of avoiding excessive
physical stress remain. In high-
technology jobs, the problem is to
avoid mental overstress
WORK PHYSIOLOGY
 Thank you! :)

ENGR. PRINCESS ARIANNE E. ESMANA

IE 412 - INSTRUCTOR