Working conditions in the ceramic industry: Assessment of the heat exposure with the Predicted Heat Strain (PHS) index

2016 ◽  
pp. 261-266
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Ceramic Industry ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Heat Strain ◽  
Predicted Heat Strain

A Field Evaluation of Construction Workers’ Activity, Hydration Status, and Heat Strain in the Extreme Summer Heat of Saudi Arabia

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 522-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Al-Bouwarthan ◽  
Margaret M Quinn ◽  
David Kriebel ◽  
David H Wegman
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Heat Strain ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Hydration Status ◽  
Summer Heat ◽  
Cardiovascular Strain ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

Abstract Objectives Assess the impact of summer heat exposure (June–September) on residential construction workers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia by evaluating (i) heart rate (HR) responses, hydration status, and physical workload among workers in indoor and outdoor construction settings, (ii) factors related to physiological responses to work in hot conditions, and (iii) how well wet-bulb globe temperature-based occupational exposure limits (WBGTOELs) predict measures of heat strain. Methods Twenty-three construction workers (plasterers, tilers, and laborers) contributed 260 person-days of monitoring. Workload energy expenditure, HR, fluid intake, and pre- and postshift urine specific gravity (USG) were measured. Indoor and outdoor heat exposures (WBGT) were measured continuously and a WBGTOEL was calculated. The effects of heat exposure and workload on heart rate reserve (HRR), a measure of cardiovascular strain, were examined with linear mixed models. A metric called ‘heat stress exceedance’ (HSE) was constructed to summarize whether the environmental heat exposure (WBGT) exceeded the heat stress exposure limit (WBGTOEL). The sensitivity and specificity of the HSE as a predictor of cardiovascular strain (HRR ≥30%) were determined. Results The WBGTOEL was exceeded frequently, on 63 person-days indoors (44%) and 91(78%) outdoors. High-risk HRR occurred on 26 and 36 person-days indoors and outdoors, respectively. The HSE metric showed higher sensitivity for HRR ≥30% outdoors (89%) than indoors (58%) and greater specificity indoors (59%) than outdoors (27%). Workload intensity was generally moderate, with light intensity work more common outdoors. The ability to self-pace work was associated with a lower frequency of HRR ≥30%. USG concentrations indicated that workers began and ended their shifts dehydrated (USG ≥1.020). Conclusions Construction work where WBGTOEL is commonly exceeded poses health risks. The ability of workers to self-pace may help reduce risks.

Evaluating the effectiveness and practicality of a cooling vest across four industries in Hong Kong

Facilities ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 511-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert P.C. Chan ◽  
Wen Yi ◽  
Francis K.W. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Heat Strain ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Physical Strain ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hot Environments ◽  
Cooling Garment ◽  
Phase Design ◽  
Occupational Settings

Purpose Extreme hot environments are prevalent in many occupational settings, and facilities management workers are no exception. Wearing suitable cooling garment is a useful means to alleviate heat strain and improving performance at heat exposure. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of the cooling vest across four selected fields (i.e. construction, outdoor cleaning and horticulture, kitchen work and work involved manual handling at the airport) and identify the shortcomings of the cooling vest used by the participating workers. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a two-phase design: a quantitative questionnaire survey followed by qualitative in-depth interviews. Findings A remarkable physical strain alleviation (PSA) of 21.1 per cent (14.8 per cent in construction, 18.8 per cent in horticulture and cleaning, 27.4 per cent in kitchen and catering and 26.5 per cent in airport apron service) is achieved by the use of cooling vest in four industries. Despite the success of PSA, several shortcomings of the cooling vest were identified: easily stained color, heavy weight, short cooling time, inflexibility that presents a hazard around moving equipment, lack of industry-specific design, nondurable and thick fabric with poor permeability. Originality/value The findings of the current study do not only confirm the effectiveness of the cooling vest in alleviating heat strain and physical strain but also identify the major shortcomings upon which further improvements can be made.

scholarly journals Human responses in heat – comparison of the Predicted Heat Strain and the Fiala multi-node model for a case of intermittent work

2017 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Lundgren-Kownacki ◽  
Natividad Martínez ◽  
Bo Johansson ◽  
Agnes Psikuta ◽  
Simon Annaheim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Strain ◽  
Predicted Heat Strain ◽  
Intermittent Work

scholarly journals The Effects of the Dynamic Thermophysical Properties of Clothing and the Walking Speed Input Parameter on the Heat Strain of a Human Body Predicted by the PHS Model

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6475
Author(s):  
Qianqian Huang ◽  
Jun Li
Keyword(s):  
Thermophysical Properties ◽  
Prediction Accuracy ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Body Movement ◽  
Input Parameter ◽  
Heat Strain ◽  
Cold Weather ◽  
Good Prediction ◽  
Clothing Insulation ◽  
Predicted Heat Strain

The prediction accuracy of the Predicted Heat Strain (PHS) model is affected by the correction approaches of static thermophysical properties of clothing considering the pumping effects of wind and body movement. In this study, a comparison of different correction algorithms for three types of clothing and their influence on the heat strain predicted by the PHS model was carried out with experimental data obtained from the literature. Results show that the dynamic insulation values calculated by ISO 9920 corrections are larger than those obtained by ISO 7933 when the static insulation values are higher than 0.4 clo, but when the static values are lower than 0.4 clo, it varies contrarily. The dynamic evaporative resistance values calculated with ISO 9920 equations are larger than those with ISO 7933. The prediction accuracy of the PHS model with ISO 9920 corrections and the addition of the walking speed input parameter can be improved for normal clothing (NC) in a hot environment and high clothing insulation. For specialized, insulating, cold weather clothing (SC), ISO 7933 corrections with an added walking speed input parameter to the PHS model have a good prediction precision.

Physiological tolerance to uncompensable heat stress: effects of exercise intensity, protective clothing, and climate

1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 216-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Montain ◽  
M. N. Sawka ◽  
B. S. Cadarette ◽  
M. D. Quigley ◽  
J. M. McKay
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Core Temperature ◽  
Exercise Intensity ◽  
Protective Clothing ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Heat Strain ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Physiological Tolerance ◽  
Uncompensable Heat Stress

This study determined the influence of exercise intensity, protective clothing level, and climate on physiological tolerance to uncompensable heat stress. It also compared the relationship between core temperature and the incidence of exhaustion from heat strain for persons wearing protective clothing to previously published data of unclothed persons during uncompensable heat stress. Seven heat-acclimated men attempted 180-min treadmill walks at metabolic rates of approximately 425 and 600 W while wearing full (clo = 1.5) or partial (clo = 1.3) protective clothing in both a desert (43 degrees C dry bulb, 20% relative humidity, wind 2.2 m/s) and tropical (35 degrees C dry bulb, 50% relative humidity, wind 2.2 m/s) climate. During these trials, the evaporative cooling required to maintain thermal balance exceeded the maximal evaporative capacity of the environment and core temperature continued to rise until exhaustion from heat strain occurred. Our findings concerning exhaustion from heat strain are 1) full encapsulation in protective clothing reduces physiological tolerance as core temperature at exhaustion was lower (P < 0.05) in fully than in partially clothed persons, 2) partial encapsulation results in physiological tolerance similar to that reported for unclothed persons, 3) raising metabolic rate from 400 to 600 W does not alter physiological tolerance when subjects are fully clothed, and 4) physiological tolerance is similar when subjects are wearing protective clothing in desert and tropical climates having the same wet bulb globe thermometer. These findings can improve occupational safety guidelines for human heat exposure, as they provide further evidence that the incidence of exhaustion from heat strain can be predicted from core temperature.

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