Applicability of Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) in occupational heat stress assessment: a case study in brick industries

The present study aimed to investigate the applicability of Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) as an innovative and science-based index in public health researches, in occupational heat stress assessment. All indoor and outdoor workers (200 people) of Brick industries of Shahroud, Iran participated in the research. First, the environmental variables such as air temperature, wet-bulb temperature, globe temperature, air velocity and relative humidity were measured; then UTCI and WBGT (wet-bulb globe temperature) indices were calculated. Simultaneously, physiological parameters including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, oral temperature, skin temperature, tympanic temperature and heart rate of workers were measured. UTCI and WBGT indices were 34.2 ± 2°C, 21.8 ± 1.8°C in the outdoor environments and 38.1 ± 4.4°C, 24.7 ± 3.3°C at the indoor environments, respectively. There were the weak inverse relationships between UTCI and WBGT indices at the outdoor environments and physiological responses such as systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. However, there were no similar results for indoor environments. The significant relationships were found between UTCI and WBGT at both indoor and outdoor environments. Both UTCI and WBGT indices are suitable for assessing the occupational heat stress. Although, UTCI index seems more appropriate for heat stress assessment in the environments with low humidity and air velocity.     

Actual and simulated weather data to evaluate wet bulb globe temperature and heat index as alerts for occupational heat-related illness

Heat stress occupational exposure limits (OELs) were developed in the 1970s to prevent heat-related illnesses (HRIs). The OELs define the maximum safe wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) for a given physical activity level. This study’s objectives were to compute the sensitivity of heat stress OELs and determine if Heat Index could be a surrogate for WBGT. We performed a retrospective analysis of 234 outdoor work-related HRIs reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 2016. Archived NOAA weather data were used to compute each day’s maximum WBGT and Heat Index. We defined the OELs’ sensitivity as the percentage of incidents with WBGT?>?OEL. Sensitivity of the OELs was between 88% and 97%, depending upon our assumption about acclimatization status. In fatal cases, the OELs’ sensitivity was somewhat higher (92–100%). We also computed the sensitivity of each possible Heat Index discrimination threshold. A Heat Index threshold of 80?°F (26.7?°C) was exceeded in 100% of fatalities and 99% of non-fatal HRIs. In a separate analysis, we created simulated weather data to assess associations of WBGT with Heat Index over a range of realistic outdoor heat conditions. These simulations demonstrated that for a given Heat Index, when radiant heat was included, WBGT was often higher than previously reported. The imperfect correlation between WBGT and Heat Index precluded a direct translation of OELs from WBGT into Heat Index. We conclude that WBGT-based heat stress exposure limits are highly sensitive and should be used for workplace heat hazard assessment. When WBGT is unavailable, a Heat Index alert threshold of approximately 80?°F (26.7?°C) could identify potentially hazardous workplace environmental heat.     

Comparison of heat stress measuring techniques in a steel mill

Three heat stress measurement devices, currently used to assess heat exposure in the workplace, were compared in indoor and outdoor environments at a steel mill in Orem, Utah, during the month of July, 1982. Sixty sets of environmental data from a total of fourteen different test locations were collected and analyzed. Significance tests, linear regression equations and correlation coefficients were calculated to determine comparability and relationships between standard WBGT Index and Botsball (WGT) and also between standard WBGT Index and an electronic WBGT Index Meter. The results of the significance testing between the standard WBGT, Botsball, and electronically generated WBGT showed that the electronically generated WBGT means were statistically much closer to the standard WBGT values than were the Botsball (WGT) results. The statistical analysis performed shows that a high correlation of variation exists between the standard WBGT and both the Botsball and the electronically generated WBGT.     

The prediction of temperatures and heat stress limits in the workplace with natural ventilation

This paper presents a simple procedure for using the climatic factors reported by weather bureaus to predict levels of heat stress and conditions of risk in the workplace. For an aluminum reduction plant with natural ventilation, the study showed that the air temperature inside followed the same pattern of annual changes as the normal maximum ambient temperature outside the building. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) was correlated significantly with air temperature (ta). With limited measurements, WBGT was predicted for the entire year at different locations in the shop.     

Heat stress standard for hot work environments in Japan

Threshold limit values (TLVs) are intended to protect workers from the severest effects of thermal stress and to establish the exposures to heat in working conditions. Earlier, acute heat strokes often occurred as a result of working in hot environments in Japan. However, acute heat strokes recently sometimes occurred in outdoor work environments such as industrial constructions and agriculture. Seasonal variations in weather are significant and the climatic conditions vary. The criteria are mainly set for working in mines, factories, and so on. WBGT is a useful evaluation index for hot environments; however, it is not commonly used for work practices. WBGT could be calculated and should be commonly used as a standard during summer. Japan mainly has a very hot and humid climate during summer. With regard to the thermal standard for offices, humidity also creates a problem in the indoor thermal conditions. Therefore, it is better to decide the TLVs of the thermal conditions according to seasons and activity levels. Inadequate thermal stress may cause discomfort and adversely affect the performance, safety, and harm to health. Further, thermal factors in the work environment must be measured and evaluated under light workload conditions like desk work for safety and work efficiency.     

新标准下某单位高温测量结果分析

目的通过对某用人单位作业场所高温的测量与分析,确定高温作业岗位,加强高温作业场所防护工作,保护劳动者身体健康。方法采用职业卫生学调查法、现场测量法、分类查表法进行测量分析。结果该用人单位油漆车间挂钩岗位湿球黑球温度（WBGT）指数平均值为31．3℃,摘钩岗位WBGT指数平均值为30．8℃,甩漆浸漆岗位WBGT指数平均值为30．9℃,喷漆岗位WBGT指数平均值为30．4℃。结论该用人单位油漆车间挂钩、摘钩、甩漆浸漆、喷漆岗位为高温作业岗位。这些岗位的平均WBGT指数均超过WBGT限值。应采取相应措施对高温作业工人进行防护,防止中暑发生。     

Climate change, workplace heat exposure, and occupational health and productivity in Central America

Climate change is increasing heat exposure in places such as Central America, a tropical region with generally hot/humid conditions. Working people are at particular risk of heat stress because of the intrabody heat production caused by physical labor. This article aims to describe the risks of occupational heat exposure on health and productivity in Central America, and to make tentative estimates of the impact of ongoing climate change on these risks. A review of relevant literature and estimation of the heat exposure variable wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) in different locations within the region were used to estimate the effects. We found that heat stress at work is a real threat. Literature from Central America and heat exposure estimates show that some workers are already at risk under current conditions. These conditions will likely worsen with climate change, demonstrating the need to create solutions that will protect worker health and productivity.     

Climate Change,Workplace Heat Exposure,and Occupational Health and Productivity in Central America

Abstract

Climate change is increasing heat exposure in places such as Central America, a tropical region with generally hot/humid conditions. Working people are at particular risk of heat stress because of the intrabody heat production caused by physical labor. This article aims to describe the risks of occupational heat exposure on health and productivity in Central America, and to make tentative estimates of the impact of ongoing climate change on these risks. A review of relevant literature and estimation of the heat exposure variable wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) in different locations within the region were used to estimate the effects. We found that heat stress at work is a real threat. Literature from Central America and heat exposure estimates show that some workers are already at risk under current conditions. These conditions will likely worsen with climate change, demonstrating the need to create solutions that will protect worker health and productivity.     

An improved method for monitoring heat stress levels in the workplace.

Studies in 15 industries revealed characteristic empirical relationships between workplace environmental conditions and outside weather conditions. These relationships, expressed in the form of predictive models for Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, can be used to estimate WBGT from weather forecasts, weather reports, or current meterorological measurements.     

Health Impacts of Workplace Heat Exposure: An Epidemiological Review

With predicted increasing frequency and intensity of extremely hot weather due to changing climate, workplace heat exposure is presenting an increasing challenge to occupational health and safety. This article aims to review the characteristics of workplace heat exposure in selected relatively high risk occupations, to summarize findings from published studies, and ultimately to provide suggestions for workplace heat exposure reduction, adaptations, and further research directions. All published epidemiological studies in the field of health impacts of workplace heat exposure for the period of January 1997 to April 2012 were reviewed. Finally, 55 original articles were identified. Manual workers who are exposed to extreme heat or work in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress, especially those in low-middle income countries in tropical regions. At risk workers include farmers, construction workers, fire-fighters, miners, soldiers, and manufacturing workers working around process-generated heat. The potential impacts of workplace heat exposure are to some extent underestimated due to the underreporting of heat illnesses. More studies are needed to quantify the extent to which high-risk manual workers are physiologically and psychologically affected by or behaviourally adapt to workplace heat exposure exacerbated by climate change.     

Heat stress: a threat to health and safety

This review offers a rational basis for the use of fundamental physiological controlling mechanisms in setting safe environmental limits for occupational situations where heat stress is encountered. There is no single index of heat stress that has been universally accepted. However, the use of wet bulb glove temperature (WBGT) has been adopted by various organizations on occupational health and safety in several industrial countries. Thermal limits suggested for everyday work continue to be subject to argument. The controversies arise from the fact that many factors such as individual variations, acclimatization, clothing, age, sex, physical fitness and work load lead to significant effects on tolerance of man to heat. Several measures for prevention of heat stress under industrial situations are summarized briefly. There is no agreement on a single measure to be used, rather a combination of these measures can be the most effective mean to alleviate or prevent severe heat stress. It is to be hoped that this review may help public health officials and medical doctors of various work occupations resolve some of the problems that arise in setting thermal limits and preventive measures, thus contributing to increase productivity and efficiency of work.     

Preventing heat illness in the anticipated hot climate of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games

Amid the effects of global warming, Tokyo has become an increasingly hot city, especially during the summertime. To prepare for the upcoming 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo, all participants, including the athletes, staff, and spectators, will need to familiarize themselves with Tokyo’s hot and humid summer conditions. This paper uses the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index, which estimates the risk of heat illness, to compare climate conditions of sports events in Tokyo with the conditions of the past three Summer Olympics (held in Rio de Janeiro, London, and Beijing) and to subsequently detail the need for establishing appropriate countermeasures. We compared WBGT results from the past three Summer Olympics with the same time periods in Tokyo during 2016. There was almost no time zone where a low risk of heat illness could be expected during the time frame of the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics. We also found that Tokyo had a higher WBGT than any of those previous host cities and is poorly suited for outdoor sporting events. Combined efforts by the official organizers, government, various related organizations, and the participants will be necessary to deal with these challenging conditions and to allow athletes to perform their best, as well as to prevent heat illnesses among staff and spectators. The sporting committees, as well as the Olympic organizing committee, should consider WBGT measurements in determining the venues and timing of the events to better avoid heat illness and facilitate maximum athletic performance.     

Challenges to temperature regulation when working in hot environments

The focus of this review is upon acute exposure to hot environments and the accompanying physiological changes. The target audience includes physiologists, physicians and occupational health and safety practitioners. Using the principles of thermodynamics, the avenues for human heat exchange are explored, leading to an evaluation of some methods used to assess thermally-stressful environments. In particular, there is a critique of the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index, and an overview of an alternative means by which such assessments may be undertaken (the heat stress index). These principles and methods are combined to illustrate how one may evaluate the risk of heat illness. Three general areas of research are briefly reviewed: the physiological impact of wearing thermal protective clothing, heat adaptation (acclimation) and whole-body pre-cooling. These topics are considered as potential pre-exposure techniques that may be used to reduce the threat of hyperthermia, or to enhance work performance in the heat.     

汽车弹簧制造职业病危害防护对策研究

目的通过对某汽车弹簧生产过程中的职业病危害因素的识别与分析,确定职业病危害的关键控制点,制订防护对策。方法运用职业卫生调查、职业卫生检测、职业健康检查等方法进行识别和分析。结果汽车弹簧生产过程的主要职业病危害因素为噪声、粉尘、化学毒物、高温和紫外辐射等危害因素,现场检测结果显示,噪声合格率为30.8%,高温作业岗位的WBGT指数100%超过限值,紫外探伤岗位紫外辐射强度100%超标,其他职业病危害因素的浓度或强度均低于国家职业接触限值。结论汽车弹簧制造职业病危害的防护应以职业危害关键控制点为重点,采取切实可行的职业病危害防护对策,减少或消除职业病危害。     

某合成橡胶厂职业病危害控制效果评价

目的识别某合成橡胶厂建设项目职业病危害因素,分析和评价控制效果。方法依据《中华人民共和国职业病防治法》,采取现场职业卫生调查、工作场所职业病危害因素检测和职业健康检查等方法进行评价。结果该建设项目生产工艺、总体布局、生产设备及工艺布局、个体防护用品配备及使用情况、辅助用室、应急救援、职业病危害防护设施、职业卫生组织管理措施等基本符合《工业企业设计卫生标准》及国家其他相关卫生要求。职业病危害因素检测结果:噪声强度51.6~91.7 dB(A),有1个岗位超标;工作场所生产性热源的综合温度(WBGT指数)为30.6~38.0℃,有3个岗位不符合要求;粉尘、毒物、工频电磁场的检测结果均符合国家卫生标准要求。结论该建设项目职业病危害控制措施基本有效。     

Criteria for assessing severely hot environments: from the WBGT index to the PHS (predicted heat strain) model

BACKGROUND: The present study deals with the main methods for assessment of hot environments: i.e., WBGT, SWreq and PHS. It is stressed how the WBGT index, which is strictly empirical, although a very practical tool for the assessment of the hot environments, can only be used for a rough evaluation of heat stress, and especially for a not very high metabolic rate (M<175 W/m2). On the contrary, the SWreq method, which is based on both subject-environment heat exchange and the effect of clothing, allows a better assessment of the work situation with a general reduction of the exposure limits with respect to WBGT, especially in non-uniform environments (ta not equal to tr). However, it should be noted that application of SWreq is required by the ISO standard 7243 when the WBGT limit values are exceeded. METHODS: In this study interest was extensively focused on the "Predicted Heat Strain" method, highlighting via a special software the differences in heat stress assessment related to this new approach, which will be adopted by the ISO in the next revision of standard 7933. RESULTS: The PHS method, unlike SWreq, allows the prediction of the time-response of the main physiological variables of interest (i.e., skin temperature, core temperature and sweat rate). Moreover thanks to better modelling of heat exchanges, the PHS method allows account to be taken of both movement and clothing effects, resulting in even more reduced exposure.     

某汽车减振器弹簧车间职业病危害及控制措施分析

目的识别某汽车减振器弹簧生产车间的职业病危害因素,分析其危害程度并评价防护措施的效果。方法采用职业卫生学现场调查和工作场所职业病危害因素检测方法,对生产车间的职业病危害及控制措施进行分析。结果汽车减振器弹簧生产车间存在化学毒物、粉尘、噪声和高温等职业病危害因素。检测结果显示化学毒物的浓度符合职业接触限值的要求;粉体涂装室/（投料时）检测点的粉尘浓度严重超标,短时间接触水平达到平均接触容许浓度（TWA）的20.9倍;各检测点的噪声强度为76.6~85.3 d B（A）,材料台和端部压延检测点的噪声强度超过职业接触限值;高温检测结果显示端部压延和涂装前处理中部的WBGT指数超过职业接触限值。结论生产车间针对化学毒物和粉尘采取了有效的控制措施,但针对噪声和高温的职业病危害控制措施仍需进一步完善。     

Sociodemographic descriptors of personal exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) in EXPOLIS Helsinki

Demographic and socioeconomic differences between population sub-groups were analyzed, as a component of the EXPOLIS (Air Pollution Exposure Distributions Within Adult Urban Populations in Europe) Helsinki study, to explain variation in personal exposures to fine particles (PM2.5). Two-hundred one individuals were randomly selected among 25--55-year-old inhabitants of Helsinki Metropolitan area. Personal exposure samples and residential indoor, residential outdoor and workplace indoor microenvironment measurements of PM2.5 were collected between October 1996 and December 1997. Variation in PM2.5 personal exposures, between sociodemographic sub-groups, was best described by differences in occupational status, education and age. Lower occupational status, less educated and young participants had greater exposures than upper occupational status, more educated and older participants. Different workplace concentrations explained most of the socioeconomic differences, and personal day and night exposures and concentrations in home (but not workplace or outdoor concentrations) caused the PM2.5 exposure differences between age groups. Men had higher exposures and much larger exposure differences between the sociodemographic groups than women. No gender, socioeconomic or age differences were observed in home outdoor concentrations between groups. Exposure to tobacco smoke did not seem to create new differences between the sociodemographic groups; instead, it amplified the existing differences.     

某塑胶模具有限公司建设项目职业病危害控制效果评价

目的识别某塑胶模具有限公司一厂、四厂、五厂建设项目产生的职业病危害因素,分析其危害程度及对劳动者健康的影响,提出职业病危害的关键控制点和防护要求,保护劳动者健康。方法采取职业卫生学调查、检查表法、工作场所职业病危害因素检测等方法对该建设项目进行评价。结果该建设项目生产过程中产生的主要职业病危害因素有：正己烷、戊烷、甲苯、环己酮、丙烯腈、苯乙烯、粉尘、噪声、高温等。选择14个工作岗位共检测36项化学有害因素及2项粉尘,其中化学有害因素有1项超标,合格率为97％;粉尘均合格,合格率为100％;对14个可能产生稳态噪声危害的工作岗位进行噪声强度测量,并计算8h等效声级。结果表明有6个岗位8h等效声级超过85dB（A）,合格率为57％;对5个可能产生高温危害的工作岗位进行WBGT综合温度测量,测量结果表明四厂一楼注塑车间SA030号注塑机岗位3dWBGT指数均超过接触限值,最高为31．8℃,其余4个岗位WBGT指数符合接触限值要求,合格率为75％。结论该项目属于职业病危害严重的建设项目,应加强职业卫生管理与职业病危害防护措施的持续改进,提高劳动者自我防护意识。     

Nursing accidents at the workplace and their relation with the security and occupational health status

The purpose of this study was to examine the accidents and incidents that take place in the workplace and their relationship with the occupational health and safety climate. The sample for this study was chosen by convenience and was composed of 154 professional nurses. The Occupational Health and Safety Climate Scale. (Roduguez et al., 2000) was used for the research. The results of the study reveal that the variables that contribute to understanding the determinants of the occupational health and safety climate are the individual's relationships with peers and supervisors, the number of trainings in the area of occupational health and safety and the number of accidents that the individual has experienced.