Evaluation and Validation of Heat Stress Indices in Iranian Oil Terminals
,
Abstract
Most of Iranian Oil Terminals are located in tropical regions and consequently, disorders of heat stress among workers are expected. There are many heat stress indices with self-advantages and disadvantages which are used for evaluating the amount of heat stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the reliability of WBGT, ET and CET indices by comparison to core body temperature in Kharg Oil Terminal Company. Participants (n=94) were workers in different units of the terminal. After identifying units and type of activities, the air and wet temperatures, WBGT, and core body temperature (oral and ear drum) in three situations including outdoor and indoor activities were measured. The means and standard deviations of WBGT, ET, and CET in the indoor and outdoor workplaces were 26.9±4.29, 25.94±4.05, 26.11±3.6 °C and 29.76±3.51, 28.03±4.05, 29.36±3.51 °C, respectively. The statistical correlation between the above mentioned heat stress indices with oral and tympanic temperatures were significant (p<0.001). The regression equations showed that the most determinant coefficient belongs to WBGT and oral temperature. It was concluded that the WBGT, ET, and CET with core body temperature had significant correlations and that WBGT was the most accurate index to determine the heat stress among workers.
Golbabaie F, Omidvari M. Man and Thermal Environment. 3rd ed, Tehran University Press., Tehran, Iran, 2009.
Golbabaie F, Alimohamadi IR, Tiagar A. Occupational hygiene in heat workplaces. Tehran University Press., Tehran, Iran, 2002.
Rick BR, Grahan BA. Avalid method for comparing Rational and empirical Heat stress indices. Ann Occp Hyg 2002; 165-174.
Weather conditions. 2011; Available from: http://tonokmah.persiangig.com/other2011/weather1/weather1.htm
ISO 8996. Ergonomics of the thermal environment determination of metabolic heat production. International Standard Organization/ 2001.
ISO 9920. Ergonomics of the thermal environment estimation of the thermal insulation and evaporative resistance of clothing ensemble. International Standard Organization/ 1995.
Christian LL. Gender differences during heat strin at critical WBGT. Ann Occp Hyg 2006; 133-141.
Frank A, Belokopytov M, Shapiro Y, Epstain Y. The cumulative heat strain index – a novel approach to assess the physiological strain induced by exercise heat stress. Eur J Appl Physio 2001; 84: 527-532.
Moran DM, Shitzer A, Pandolf K. A physiological strain index to evaluate heat stress. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 1998; 275:129-134.
Morioka I, Miyai N, Miyashita K. Hot environment and health problems of outdoor workers at a construction site. Industrial Health Jul 2006; 44 (3): 474-480.
Derby W. The development of warm weather relative comfort index for environment analysis. University of Delaware 2001.
Bhanarkari A, Srivastava A, Joseph AE, Kumar R. Air Pollution and heat exposure study in the workplace in a glass manufacturing Unit in India. Environ Monit Assess 2005; 109(1- 3): 73-80.
P. Yaglou D, Minard L. Control of heat casualties at military training camps. AMA Arrch Ind Health 1987; 16: 302-16.
Wasterlund DS. A review of heat stress research with application to forestry. Applied Ergonomics 1998; 29(3): 179- 183.
Parker RD, Pierce FD. Comparison of heat stress measuring techniques in steel mill. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1984; 45 (6): 405- 15.
M. Pourmahabadian M, Adelkhah K, Azam. Heat Exposure Assessment in the Working Environment of a Glass Manufacturing Unit. Department of Occupational Health, School of public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,Iran,2008.
Kalantary A, Sadeghi M. Evaluation and validation of heat stress indices in a single casting Mobarakeh Steel. National Congress of Occupational Health & Safety 2007.
Golmohamadi et al. Comparison of HSI and WBGT heat stress index of Hamadan city bakery. National Congress of Occupational Health & Safety 2004.
Naghibi Amir. Evaluation of thermal stress on lead and zinc mine and the determine model for predicting the amount of workers tolerating. M.Sc. Thesis, Tehran University, Tehran, IRAN, 1996.
Betha D, Parson K. The development of practical heat stress assessment methodology for use in U.Kindustry: http//www.hse.gov,uk/ research/rrpdf/rr008.pdf:2002.
Perry, Logan W, Tomas E. Heat stress and strain in an aluminum smelter. AIHA 1999; 60:659-665.
ACGIH 181-88. Threshold limit values for chemical substance and physical agents and biological exposure indices. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. ACGIH.181- 88. 2005.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 4 No 2 (2012) | |
| Section | Original Article(s) | |
| Published | 2015-10-11 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Heat stress WBGT ET CET Oil terminal | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
|
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
