The impact of cooling vests on restaurant workers: A study.

Background: With the increasing workforce, especially in unfavorable working environments, for example, indoor working in kitchens, thermal stress has been a major problem. The effects of thermal stress are that it can reduce the efficiency of workers, thereby raising their body temperature and caus...

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Publicado en:Work Vol. 84; no. 1; pp. 231 - 239
Autores principales: Shojaei Far, Mohadese, Alipour Ghiri, Pouya, Zamanian, Zahra, Oliaei, Mohammad, Fararouei, Mohammad
Formato: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Sage Publications Inc. May2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: May2026
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      pub: Sage Publications Inc.
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        atl: The impact of cooling vests on restaurant workers: A study.
      aug:
        au:
          Shojaei Far, Mohadese
          Alipour Ghiri, Pouya
          Zamanian, Zahra
          Oliaei, Mohammad
          Fararouei, Mohammad
        affil: Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
      sug:
        subj:
          Cold
          Protective Clothing
          Job Performance
          Stress, Physiological
          Heat Stress Disorders Prevention and Control
          Blue Collar Workers
          Restaurants
          Mining Iran
          Iran
          Human
          Cross Sectional Studies
          Descriptive Research
          Analytic Research
          Shiftwork
          Heart Rate
          Respiratory Rate
          Productivity
          Work Environment
          Body Temperature Regulation
          Ergonomics
          Task Performance and Analysis
          Questionnaires
          Adult
          Middle Age
          Data Analysis Software
          Descriptive Statistics
          Multiple Linear Regression
          Mental Fatigue
          Blood Pressure
          Metabolism
          Body Temperature
          Skin Temperature
          Weight Loss
          Sweating
          Core Body Temperature
          Occupational Health
          Occupational Safety
          Male
          Female
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Background: With the increasing workforce, especially in unfavorable working environments, for example, indoor working in kitchens, thermal stress has been a major problem. The effects of thermal stress are that it can reduce the efficiency of workers, thereby raising their body temperature and causing irritability, restlessness, and negligence to safety instructions. Objective: Cooling vests (CV) are used to mitigate these effects. This study aimed to assess the effect of CVs on performance, thermal strain, and physiological responses of personnel in an industrial company restaurant. Methods: The current cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study recruited 60 staff working in restaurants exposed to heat above the permissible level. Initial measurements of heat stress indices, physiological parameters, and performance were taken before starting work. The same measurements were repeated during and after an 8-h work shift. Secondly, ice gel cooling vests were provided to the staff, and the same indices were re-measured. Results: The results demonstrated that restaurant workers were subjected to thermal stress higher than the allowable limit. Cooling with ice gel vests significantly improved the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) - Heat Stress Index (HSI) thermal stress index, physiological indicators (heart rate, respiratory rate, deep ear temperature), and performance. This study suggests using CVs to improve physiological indicators and reduce thermal stress and ameliorate performance in restaurant settings. Conclusions: Thermal stress in restaurant workers imposes a high thermal load, leading to increased cognitive demands. The study showed that the use of CVs would considerably alleviate physiological indicators of thermal discomfort and thus improve workers' productivity. CVs are recommended as an intervention to reduce thermal stress and to ameliorate the working environment for restaurant workers.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        pictorial
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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