The Impact of Heat on the Accuracy and Pace of Working by Tests of Job Skill Assessment

Harmful physical factors in workplace including temperature may affect the cognitive performance of human. This study was conducted to determine the impact of the intervention of heat on the accuracy and pace of working in men. This interventional study was conducted on 56 participants of the male students in the climatic chamber. After gathering the demographic information, the participants were divided into 2 groups including “case group” (under the condition of 30% relative humidity and dry bulb temperature of 35 °C) and “control group” (under the condition of 40% relative humidity and dry bulb temperature of 20 °C). After taking a rest for 10 to 15 min, the participants carried out all tests of job skill assessment (BATTERY method) including clockwise and counter-clockwise two-arm coordination test, V Pieron test, and test of targeting accuracy thermometer, in 0, 40, 80 and 120 min after commencing the test. The number of errors (accuracy assessment) and the duration of performing the test (pace assessment) were recorded. There was a significant difference in the mean values of working accuracy when the participants performed the tests of job skill assessment (P<0.001). The differences between the mean values of the pace of working when the participants performed the tests of job skill assessment were not significant except for targeting accuracy thermometer measurement (P>0.09). High temperature may cause a decrease in people’s performance and an increase in harmful behaviors, because of decreasing the accuracy.