Estimating Occupational Heat Exposure From Personal Sampling of Public Works Employees in Birmingham, Alabama.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study investigated whether using thermometers clipped on workers' shoes would result in different heat exposure estimation and work-rest schedules compared with using area-level meteorological data alone.

Methods

Alabama workers (n = 51) were individually monitored using thermometers on shoes. Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) was estimated using thermometer temperatures (WBGT [personal]) or nearby weather station temperatures (WBGT [WS]). Work-rest schedules were determined from WBGT, clothing, and hourly metabolic rates estimated from self-reported tasks and bodyweight.

Results

The percent of hours exceeding the threshold limit value (TLV, ACGIH, Cincinnati, OH) were estimated at 47.8% using WBGT (personal) versus 42.1% using WBGT (WS). For work-rest

SUBMITTER: Wang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6687320 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature