Endurance limit

An endurance limit describes the level up to which static or dynamic Work can be performed without resulting in increased muscle fatigue. The output that is produced up to the endurance limit is equivalent to the maximum output of an employee with average training levels over eight hours each day.

The endurance limit can also be used to determine Standard output and efficiency level. Standard output is defined as the average output of a trained worker over the course of a working day, when the worker is given recovery time and his work can progress unhindered. An efficiency level describes the relationship between a target or reference Work output and actual output.

There are several ways to ascertain an endurance limit:

• Based on energy conversion (16 to 17 kJ/min for men undertaking hard physical work)
• Based on heart rate (30 to 35 beats above resting rate during an eight-hour day)
• Based on oxygen uptake

When planning work, the associated Workload must be such that it is below the endurance limit.

As in sport, an individual's endurance limit can be extended through training.