Physiological responses in air traffic control personnel : Houston Intercontinental Tower.

PDFTech ReportFAA-AM-73-21DOT/FAA/AM-73/21Air traffic controllersPhysiological aspectsStress (Physiology)ShiftsNight shiftsWorkloadHeart rateUrineAminesChemical analysisBlood analysisUrinalysisWorking conditionsWork environmentAirport control towersSodiumPotassiumHuman subject testingHouston (Texas)Chicago (Illinois)Civil Aerospace Medical InstituteMelton, C.E.McKenzie, J.M.Polis, B. DavidHoffmann, MarleneSaldivar, J.T.Civil Aeromedical InstituteUnited States. Office of Aviation MedicineNTL-AVIATION-Air Traffic ControlNTL-AVIATION-Aviation Human FactorsUS Transportation CollectionBiochemical and physiological indices of stress showed that the level of stress of 16 air traffic controllers at the Houston Intercontinental Airport Tower was indistinguishable from that of control populations. While the level of stress was lower than that among O'Hare Tower controllers, both groups showed about the same degree of adaptation.Day work (heavy traffic load) at Houston was characterized by elevated levels of all stress indicators as compared with the mid-shift (light traffic); epinephrine excretion increased significantly during the last half of the mid-shift as compared with the first half. Urinary stress indicators (17-ketogenic steroids, epinephrine, norepinephrine) were all significantly elevated during day sleep as compared with night sleep, indicating less effective rest during day sleep