| Abstract: | The energetic load and guidelines were formulated for energetic load in three methods of refuse collecting. These methods were collecting refuse in polythene bags (in a city area and in a suburb), in two-wheeled mini-containers and in large four-wheeled containers. To determine the energetic load of the collecting methods, these collecting methods were simulated in the laboratory. The simulation protocols were based on data such as weight of the handled materials, and the frequency and duration of the most prominent refuse collecting activities as found in the preliminary field study. During the execution of the protocols the heart rate and oxygen uptake were continuously recorded. The maximal oxygen uptake was determined during a continuous running protocol on a treadmill. The energetic load was expressed in terms of percentage of the maximal oxygen uptake. As the limit for the energetic load a value of 30% of the maximal oxygen uptake during an 8-h working day was chosen. The limit for energetic overload was exceeded for the maximal oxygen uptake for refuse collecting with polythene bags in a city area (44·5%), collecting with bags in a suburb (37·2%) and with mini-containers. The percentage of the maximal oxygen uptake for collecting with large containers was 28·4%, which was below the limit for the energetic load of 30%. Guidelines were formulated for the relevant occupational field terms: maximal amount of collecting hours and maximal amount of collected refuse per collector per hour. The guidelines were formulated in percentiles (P90 and P75). This means that 90 and 75% of the refuse collecting population in The Netherlands will be prevented from having an energetic overload above the limit of 30% of the maximal oxygen uptake. |
