scholarly journals Using meteorological data to estimate heat stress of construction workers on scaffolds for improved safety standards

2022 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
pp. 104079
Author(s):  
Iwona Szer ◽  
Tomasz Lipecki ◽  
Jacek Szer ◽  
Krzysztof Czarnocki
2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 522-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Al-Bouwarthan ◽  
Margaret M Quinn ◽  
David Kriebel ◽  
David H Wegman

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuansi Gao ◽  
Kalev Kuklane ◽  
Per-Olof Östergren ◽  
Tord Kjellstrom

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Heloísa De Gois ◽  
Zanandra Boff de Oliveira ◽  
Clarissa Moraes da Silva ◽  
Irajá Jantasch de Souza ◽  
Larrissa Ribeiro Rodrigues ◽  
...  

Tobacco cultivation, besides being an important source of income for family farming, also translates into one of the most relevant in the state. Thus, the aim of the present study is to analyze the thermal comfort of rural workers during tobacco harvest, through the temperature and humidity index (UTI) calculated with meteorological data from the years 2017/2018 and 2018/2019, in the Vale region. from Rio Pardo. For this, information was first collected anonymously through a questionnaire answered by 80 rural producers from different municipalities in the region and later, a bioclimatic analysis was performed through the calculation and interpretation of the UTI. The results indicated that the tobacco harvest in the region is held from October to January, in the morning (07:00 to 11:00) and afternoon (14:00 to 19:00) shifts. Thermal comfort analysis showed that in the morning there is no heat stress (UTI <74), unlike the afternoon where UTI indicates thermal heat discomfort (from November to January), which is progressive over the period. (UTI increases from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm) and may be potentiated by the physical stress accumulated throughout the working day.


Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1013
Author(s):  
Max Anjos ◽  
António Lopes ◽  
Andrews José de Lucena ◽  
Francisco Mendonça

Characterizing the behaviour of the sea breeze phenomenon is the foremost factor in the reduction in the heat stress and the achievement of the pleasant environment in coastal cities globally. However, this seminal study shows that the Sea Breeze Front (SBF) development can be related to an increase in outdoor thermal discomfort in a northeastern Brazilian city during summer. We explored the relationship between SBF and thermal comfort conditions using in situ meteorological observations, the SBF identification method, local climate zones (LCZs) classification, and the Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) thermal comfort index. SBF days and Non-SBF days were characterized in terms of weather conditions, combining meteorological data and technical bulletins. SBF days included hot and sunny days associated with the centre of the Upper Tropospheric Cyclonic Vortices (UTCV). In contrast, Non-SBF days were observed in UTCV’s periphery because of cloudy sky and rainfall. The results showed that the mean temperature and PET in the SBF days were 2.0 °C and 3.8 °C higher, respectively, compared to Non-SBF days in all LCZ sites. The highest PET, of 40.0 °C, was found on SBF days. Our findings suggest that SBF development could be an aggravating factor for increasing heat stress of the people living in the northeastern coast of the Brazilian city, after SBF passage.


Author(s):  
Mohammed Al-Bouwarthan ◽  
Margaret M. Quinn ◽  
David Kriebel ◽  
David H. Wegman

Saudi Arabia (SA) is one of the hottest countries in the world. This study was conducted to assess the impact of summer heat stress in Southeastern SA on short-term kidney injury (KI) among building construction workers and to identify relevant risk factors. Measurements of urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR), height, weight, hydration, symptoms, daily work and behavioral factors were collected in June and September of 2016 from a cohort of construction workers (n = 65) in Al-Ahsa Province, SA. KI was defined as ACR ≥ 30 mg/g. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to assess factors related to cross-summer changes in ACR. A significant increase in ACR occurred among most workers over the study period; incidence of KI was 18%. Risk factors associated with an increased ACR included dehydration, short sleep, and obesity. The findings suggest that exposure to summer heat may lead to the development of KI among construction workers in this region. Adequate hydration and promotion of healthy habits among workers may help reduce the risk of KI. A reduction in work hours may be the most effective intervention because this action can reduce heat exposure and improve sleep quality.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Dutta ◽  
Ajit Rajiva ◽  
Dileep Andhare ◽  
GulrezShah Azhar ◽  
Abhiyant Tiwari ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 1061-1062 ◽  
pp. 728-732
Author(s):  
Min Wu ◽  
Joe Dong ◽  
Andy Zhao ◽  
Wai Ching Tang ◽  
Willy Sher ◽  
...  

Construction workers are vulnerable to heat stress, and a number of heat-related injuries and deaths have been reported. This study thus introduces a phase change material (PCM) based cooling garment designed for construction workers. The PCM cooling garment will be effective in reducing the workers body temperature and can extend their maximum tolerable time on sites.


Author(s):  
Kemal Yazgan

The objective of this study was to detect the relationship between weather information, obtained from nearest public weather station, and milk productions of Holstein cows breeding in Sanliurfa province of Turkey. Data used in this study comprised 711,968 first-five parity individual daily milk and live weight records of 939 Holstein cows. Results from this study indicated that using combination of minimum ambient temperature and relative humidity values one day earlier from daily milk yield in temperature – humidity index (THI) formula can be good alternative for determining heat stress in Holstein dairy cows under climatological conditions in Sanliurfa province of Turkey. As a result, this study confirmed that for quantifying heat stress in dairy cows valuable information can obtained from public weather stations.


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