Heat Stress

Larrañaga, Michael D.; Bernard, Thomas E.

doi:10.1002/0471435139.hyg022.pub2

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The effectiveness of the midday work ban was demonstrated to limit the cumulative exposure risk over the course of the summer, but it does not prevent daily excessive heat stress exposure according to international guidelines. Working in conditions of such long TLV exceedance increases the risk of heat strain, which can lead to acute health effects such as dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke (Larrañaga and Bernard, 2011). Cases of these acute health effects are well-documented among workers in construction jobs (Inaba and Mirbod, 2007; Miller and Bates, 2007; Horie, 2013; Montazer et al , 2013; Dutta et al , 2015; Gubernot et al , 2015; Jia et al , 2016; El-Shafei et al , 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Heat Stress Exposure among Construction Workers in the Hot Desert Climate of Saudi Arabia

Al-Bouwarthan

Quinn

Kriebel

et al. 2019

Annals of Work Exposures and Health

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Objectives Excessive heat exposure poses significant risks to workers in hot climates. This study assessed the intensity and duration of heat stress exposure among workers performing residential construction in southeastern Saudi Arabia (SA) during the summer, June–September 2016. Objectives were to: identify work factors related to heat stress exposure; measure environmental heat exposure at the construction sites; assess the heat stress risk among workers using the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index; and determine if temperature-humidity indices can be appropriate alternatives to WBGT for managing heat stress risk at the construction sites. Methods Worksite walkthrough surveys and environmental monitoring were performed, indoors and outdoors, at 10 construction sites in Al-Ahsa Province. A heat stress exposure assessment was conducted according to the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) guidelines, which uses the WBGT index. WBGT measurements from two instruments were compared. Alternative heat stress indices were compared to the WBGT: the heat index (HI) and humidex (HD) index. Results Construction workers were exposed to excessive heat stress, indoors and outdoors over a large part of the work day. Complying with a midday outdoor work ban (12–3 p.m.) was not effective in reducing heat stress risk. The highest intensity of exposure was outdoors from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; a period identified with the highest hourly mean WBGT values (31–33°C) and the least allowable working time according to ACGIH® guidelines. Comparison of the alternative indices showed that the HI is more reliable than the HD as a surrogate for the WBGT index in the climate studied. Conclusion The extreme heat exposure represents a serious risk. The severity of heat stress and its impact are projected to increase due to climate change, emphasizing the need for immediate improvement of the current required protective measures and the development of occupational heat stress exposure guidelines in SA.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Heat Stress Exposure among Construction Workers in the Hot Desert Climate of Saudi Arabia

Al-Bouwarthan

Quinn

Kriebel

et al. 2019

Annals of Work Exposures and Health

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“…For many, such as firefighters and health care workers, these risks are enhanced due to heat stress associated with wearing encapsulated protective clothing. Physical exertion increases skeletal muscle contractions resulting in metabolic heat production much greater than the resting state (Bernard, 2012; Larranaga & Bernard, 2011). To maintain homeostasis of thermal equilibrium, the heat generated by the muscles (muscle contraction is about 20% efficient; therefore 80% of the energy appears as heat), environmental factors, and clothing must be dissipated so that the body’s heat storage is minimal (Bernard, 2012; Goldman, 1994).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ergonomics and Beyond

et al. 2016

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Heat Stress

Larrañaga¹,

Wang²

2012

Patty's Toxicology

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This chapter's goal is to provide useful information about the way people respond to acute and chronic heat stress and heat strain, the man's physiological response to heat stress. The chapter provides detailed information about the physiological aspects of heat stress. It also presents some groundwork about biological control systems, how heat is produced and stored in the body, and how it is exchanged with the environment. This background is necessary to understand the many complex and interactive phenomena associated with heat stress and with the challenges of heat strain. It is important to recognize the uniqueness of heat as a form of energy to understand issues of heat stress and strain and to see its special role in human welfare. No other potentially endangering energy, for example, is produced by the body itself, none other is so essential for life, and none other is the thermodynamic destiny in entropy for all other forms of energy.

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Heat Stress

Cited by 3 publications

References 50 publications

Assessment of Heat Stress Exposure among Construction Workers in the Hot Desert Climate of Saudi Arabia

Assessment of Heat Stress Exposure among Construction Workers in the Hot Desert Climate of Saudi Arabia

Ergonomics and Beyond

Heat Stress

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