EIN 4243 – Assignment #3 Due 9-17-20 Michelle Arias
Human Factors, Work Measurement, and Methods Engineering
1. Worker A, weighing 60kg, has a VO2 max of 60ml/kg/min and worker B, weighing
100 kg, has a VO2 max of 50ml/kg/min. When walking steadily at 5 km/h with no
extra load, A is working at 30% of his VO2 max, and B at 40% of his VO2 max.
a. If each of them has to carry a 30kg load that requires the consumption of
one additional liter of oxygen per minute, which worker will tire more
quickly? Briefly explain your answer.
b. Estimate the time to exhaustion for each of the workers carrying the load
by using Louhevaara’s equation.
(Walking w/ no load@5km/hr)
A 60kg max VO2 = 60ml/kg/min 30%
B 100kg max VO2 = 50ml/kg/min 40%
a) 1 l/min = 1000 ml/min
A max VO2 = 60ml/kg/min * 60kg = 3600ml/min (0.3) = 1080ml/min + 1000 = 2080ml/min
B max VO2 = 50ml/kg/min *100kg = 5000ml/min (0.4) = 2000ml/min + 1000 = 3000ml/min
- Worker A will tire more quickly since Worker B’s body has greatest ability to
utilize oxygen.
b)
−0.031∗ P −0.031∗30
T =5700∗10 =5700∗10 =669.7 min ≈ 11.2hr worker A
−0.031∗ P −0.031∗40
T =5700∗10 =5700∗10 =328 min ≈ 5.5 hr worker B
EIN 4243 – Assignment #3 Due 9-17-20 Michelle Arias
Human Factors, Work Measurement, and Methods Engineering
2. A 25 year old forestry worker has been calibrated for VO2 max and heart rate. He
has a VO2/heart rate regression equation of:
Y = a + bx
where y is liters O2/min
x is heart beats/minute
a = 1.42 and
b = 0.025.
a. The worker’s heart rate is monitored while chopping down trees and is
found to be 150 beats/min. Use the equation above to estimate his oxygen
consumption while performing this task.
b. Use the equation @ x = 200 beats/minute to estimate 100% VO2 max.
Calculate the relative workload by expressing the oxygen consumption
while working as a percentage of VO2 max.
a) Y = a + bx = 1.42 + 0.025(150) = 5.17 L O2/min
b) Y = a + bx = 1.42 + 0.025(200) = 6.42 L O2/min VO2 max.
5.17
Relative workload: =80.53 % of VO2 max.
6.42
EIN 4243 – Assignment #3 Due 9-17-20 Michelle Arias
Human Factors, Work Measurement, and Methods Engineering
3. Mr. Smith’s maximum grip strength is 250N. His packed suitcase requires a grip
force of 200N when he is carrying it. How long will he be able to carry it before
having to stop and rest or change hands? If he is walking at 3km/hr and the
distance from the luggage claim at the airport to taxi pickup is 300 meters, how
many times will he have to stop to change hands due to muscle fatigue?
Max grip strength = 250N required suitcase grip force= 200N walking 3km/hr
Distance = 300 meters
required exertion: 200/250 = 0.8
endurance time
126 36 36 126 36 36
T =−90+ − + =−90+ − 2 + 3 = 22.97 sec
P1 P2 P3 0.8 0.8 0.8
3000m 1 hr x = 300(1) / 3000 = 0.1 hr = 6 min =
300m x
360 sec / 22.97 sec = 15.8 he will have to stop to change hands about 16 times.
4. A laborer is working at 45% of his VO2 max for one hour. (Assume NIOSH VO2
max value of 63 kJ/mi.) How long of a rest allowance should be provided?
VO2 max value = 63 kJ/min 45% 1hr
1L
63 kJ/min * 0.45 * = 1.42 L/min
20 kJ
1.42−1.05 L/min
1* = 0.33 hr of rest allowance
1.42 L/min−0.3
EIN 4243 – Assignment #3 Due 9-17-20 Michelle Arias
Human Factors, Work Measurement, and Methods Engineering
5. You wish to estimate the oxygen consumption of a welder at your work area.
You use the 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities to derive your estimate.
Search the term “welding” in the compendium.
a. What is the 5-digit category code associated with the welding task?
b. How many METS are associated with the welding task?
c. What is the oxygen uptake of the task in liters/minute for a 185lb man?
a) 5-digit code associated with welding task : 11610 and 11430
b) METS associated with the welding task is: 3
c) 185lb=83.91 kg
1 MET = 3.5 mL/min * 83.91 * 3 = 881.05ml/min = 0.881 L/min oxygen uptake
