Effect of Cold Weather on Productivity
Abstract
A "cold environment factor" scheme, based on data from various sources which indicate the apparent effect of cold weather characteristics on manual and equipment task efficiency, has been developed to estimate the expected effort, in terms of required time, for performing tasks in any cold environment condition. Almost any kind of outside work requires more time and effort when performed in a cold environment, the principal characteristics of that environment being low temperature, wind and precipitation (snowfall). Comparative field tests, where the only variables are the environmental conditions, while the tasks, equipment and personnel remain the same, would provide relatively reliable data on the effects of the environment. In the absence of such data, it is necessary to use the available results of various surveys from the construction industry and the military, which indicate the relative efficiency of people and equipment while functioning in selected cold environment conditions [Refs. 1-13]. The following analysis represents an initial attempt to predict the influence of cold environment on outdoor work by introducing a "cold environment factor," the inverse of efficiency.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA587696
Entities
People
- Gunars Abele
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory