BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the energy
expenditure of workers in physical work tasks in order to determine if
people of different ages and gender carry out repetitive activities
according to the recommended limits of energy at work.
OBJECTIVE: Exploring whether age is a significant
factor to achieve industrial production rates and determine its possible
consequences.
METHODS: A laboratory experiment was conducted
with people age 20 to 58 years split by gender into four age groups. Oxygen
consumption and heart rate were measured as variables of response to the
physical workloads.
RESULTS: When carrying out repetitive moderate
load operations, women aged over 30 years exceeded the recommended energy
expenditure (95% CI). For heavy activities, only men in the age groups
20-39 and 30-40 years could perform these tasks without exceeding the
recommended oxygen consumption (95% CI).
CONCLUSIONS: The industrial predetermined motion time
systems do not take into account the effects of age and gender difference on
energy production when obtaining cycle times in activities with significant
aerobic loads. Manufacturing processes have specific standard times that
might be inappropriate if they are performed by individuals who do not meet
the standard energy production capacity.
