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Work/Rest Schedule Guidance

Work/rest schedules cut how many minutes per hour a worker spends on-task versus resting/recovering as WBGT and workload rise. Most schedule-producing standards increase rest time (and, at high workloads, cut work time) as WBGT climbs, and require more rest at a given WBGT for unacclimatized workers than for acclimatized ones.

Reference schedule

Default configurable RSH-s protocol for heat-stressed work: scheduled rest, shade/cooling, hydration, sanitation, and prevention of excessive core-temperature rise. Table below from the La Isla Network-informed RSH-s Default Protocol engine — this calculator's default protocol:

Scenario: 08:00–16:00 shift

Acclimatized workers

WBGT (°C)Light
180 W
Moderate
300 W
Heavy
415 W
Very heavy
520 W
2460 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr
2560 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr
2660 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr
2760 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr
2850 / 10 min work/rest per hr45 / 15 min work/rest per hr30 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr
2950 / 10 min work/rest per hr45 / 15 min work/rest per hr30 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr
3045 / 15 min work/rest per hr40 / 20 min work/rest per hr30 / 30 min work/rest per hr15 / 45 min work/rest per hr
3145 / 15 min work/rest per hr40 / 20 min work/rest per hr30 / 30 min work/rest per hr15 / 45 min work/rest per hr
3240 / 20 min work/rest per hr30 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr10 / 50 min work/rest per hr
3330 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr10 / 50 min work/rest per hrStop work
3430 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr10 / 50 min work/rest per hrStop work
3530 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr10 / 50 min work/rest per hrStop work
3630 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr10 / 50 min work/rest per hrStop work

Unacclimatized workers

WBGT (°C)Light
180 W
Moderate
300 W
Heavy
415 W
Very heavy
520 W
2460 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr60 / 0 min work/rest per hr
2550 / 10 min work/rest per hr45 / 15 min work/rest per hr30 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr
2650 / 10 min work/rest per hr45 / 15 min work/rest per hr30 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr
2745 / 15 min work/rest per hr40 / 20 min work/rest per hr30 / 30 min work/rest per hr15 / 45 min work/rest per hr
2845 / 15 min work/rest per hr40 / 20 min work/rest per hr30 / 30 min work/rest per hr15 / 45 min work/rest per hr
2940 / 20 min work/rest per hr30 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr10 / 50 min work/rest per hr
3030 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr10 / 50 min work/rest per hrStop work
3130 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr10 / 50 min work/rest per hrStop work
3230 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr10 / 50 min work/rest per hrStop work
3330 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr10 / 50 min work/rest per hrStop work
3430 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr10 / 50 min work/rest per hrStop work
3530 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr10 / 50 min work/rest per hrStop work
3630 / 30 min work/rest per hr20 / 40 min work/rest per hr10 / 50 min work/rest per hrStop work

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