Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Dissertation

Keywords

Cold--Physiological effect; Packing-house workers--Health and hygiene;

Abstract

Current research indicates that acute non-freezing cold exposure elicits short-term performance problems; namely reduced upper extremity temperature, blood flow, tactile sensitivity, and dexterity. However, various animal-related studies indicate that humans are at increased risk of incurring semi-permanent upper extremity nervous system dysfunction as a result of repeated cold exposure.

The purpose of this research was to examine various factors that may contribute to hand/arm nervous system impairment of individuals who work in a refrigerated meat-processing environment. The methodology used was primarily the Experimental Method and from studies conducted by other researchers, was driven by the following questions:

(1) How would heat applied to the hands of meat processing workers who work in a refrigerated environment affect their level of fingertip sensitivity?

(2) To what extent does smoking negatively contribute to the development of a semi-permanent nervous system impairment in the hands of meat processing workers?

(3) To what extent does the time that an individual works in a refrigerated meat-processing environment significantly correlate to his/her level of fingertip sensitivity?

(4) To what extent does the skin thickness on the dorsal side of a meat processing worker's hand significantly correlate to his/her level of fingertip sensitivity?

The study was conducted by initially testing the subjects' index fingertip sensitivity with a Bruel and Kjare vibrometer. For the next 8 weeks, the treatment subjects wore a glove equipped with a functional heat pack on the dorsal side of their left (non-dominant) hand during the normal work routine while the control subjects' glove contained a non-functional heat pack. Two additional vibrometry tests were performed during the study; one after 4 weeks and the other after 8 weeks.

Through the use of t-tests and Pearson correlation coefficient statistical analysis techniques, it was found that subjects who received the heated glove experienced a significant improvement in left as well as right-hand fingertip sensitivity. Thus, this study indicates that individuals are at increased risk of incurring semi-permanent upper hand/arm nervous system impairment as a result of repeated cold exposure.

Year of Submission

2000

Degree Name

Doctor of Industrial Technology

Department

Department of Industrial Technology

First Advisor

Ali E. Kashef, Committee Chair

Second Advisor

Yury S. Lerner, Co-advisor

Date Original

7-2000

Object Description

1 PDF file (x, 99 pages)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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