@article{ref1,
title="Impact of added rest breaks on the productivity and well being of workers",
journal="Ergonomics",
year="2001",
author="Dababneh, A. J. and Swanson, Naomi G. and Shell, R. L.",
volume="44",
number="2",
pages="164-174",
abstract="The impact of frequent short rest breaks on the productivity and well being of a group of 30 workers in a meat-processing plant was studied. Two rest break schedules were tested, both of which provided 36 min of extra break time over the regular break schedule (30-min lunch and two 15-min breaks). In the first experimental rest break schedule, workers were given 12 3-min breaks evenly distributed over the workday (3-min break for every 27 min of work). In the second schedule, workers were given four 9-min breaks evenly distributed over the workday (9-min break every 51 min of work). Outcome measures included production rate and discomfort and stress ratings. Results showed that neither of the two experimental rest break schedules had a negative effect on production, and the 9-min break schedule improved discomfort ratings for the lower extremities. The workers in the study mostly preferred the 9-min rest break schedule, indicating that workers in general might not as readily accept fragmentation of break time into short, frequent breaks.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0014-0139",
doi="10.1080/00140130121538",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00140130121538"
}