Abstract
AbstractHaving established a Monte Carlo simulation-based algorithm to optimize work–rest schedule in a hot and humid environment, this paper attempts to develop the algorithm and identify an optimal work pattern, which may maximize the direct-work rates and minimize the health hazard due to heat stress to the workers concerned. Traditionally, construction workers in Hong Kong start work at 8:00 a.m. and finish work at 6:00 p.m., having one hour lunch break between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m., and an additional break of 30 min at 3:15 p.m. Construction workers can beat the heat by starting earlier to avoid some extreme conditions, which may occur at certain times of a day. By maintaining the current practice of 9-h working duration for a day, 21 additional work patterns with different start and finish times were proposed and evaluated by the developed optimization algorithm. An optimized schedule (direct-work rate of 87.8%) of working from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with a 20 min break at 9:40 a.m., having lunc...
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