The influence of paint characteristics on the workload produced by painting ceilings

Abstract The influence of paint weight on workload was studied in 11 professional painters. The subjects painted a garage ceiling during two 30min test sessions on consecutive days using each of two paints: a traditional paint and a new paint approximately 35% less dense. The use of the lighter paint resulted in a 20% decrease in specific energy consumption (energy consumption over and above the energy consumed at rest per painted surface area) and a 16% increase in the covering capacity of the paint. On a rating scale of perceived exertion, all but one subject perceived their workload to be less with the lighter paint, and on an analog-visual scale of exertion, all perceived a decrease in workload with the lighter paint. There were no significant differences in heart rate and total oxygen consumption between the paints. This finding, together with the significant decrease in specific oxygen consumption per painted surface area, shows that some factor in addition to the weight of the paint may be responsi...