ORIGINAL PAPER
Evaluation of occupation hot exposure in industrial workplaces
in a subtropical country
| 1 | Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
(Department and Graduate Institute of Pharmacology) |
| 2 | Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
(Department Medical Research) |
| 3 | Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
(College of Sustainable Environment, Department of Applied Geoinformatics) |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Ming-Chi Wei
Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, College of Sustainable Environment, Department of Applied Geoinformatics, No. 60, sec. 1, Erren Rd., Rende District, Tainan 71710, Taiwan
Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, College of Sustainable Environment, Department of Applied Geoinformatics, No. 60, sec. 1, Erren Rd., Rende District, Tainan 71710, Taiwan
Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(3):379–395
KEYWORDS
skin temperatureheart rateheat stresswet bulb globe temperaturemaximum allowable exposure timemetabolic rate
TOPICS
workability assessment (fitness for work)assessment of the impact of working conditions on work capability and workers’ health (fitness for work)physiological effects of workload (physical and mental workload)occupational hygiene limitsexposure control
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The objective of this study has been to evaluate the occupational heat exposure of 12 workers at 5 plants in
a subtropical country. Material and Methods: The heat stresses and strain on workers in 5 plants were assessed by the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7243 index (wet bulb globe temperature – WBGT) and the ISO 7933 index
(maximum allowable exposure time – Dlim). Results: Results indicated that 42% of the subjects (5 workers) surpassed
the WBGT limits. According to the Dlim, 42% of the subjects could not continue working in the hot environments. The relationships
between the various heat stress indices and the WBGT index were also correlated. However, further studies
from different heat environments and more subjects should be performed. Conclusions: The sensitive dependence of skin
temperature on meteorological and physiological indices for each subject was clearly observed. Obviously, the heart rate
response to metabolic rate was much greater than that caused by environmental heat alone. The exponential relationship
between workers’ duration-limited exposure time, predicted by various estimated criteria, and WBGT were also found.
Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(3):379–395
