Heat stress and protective clothing: an emerging approach from the United States

BackgroundGlobal climate change is already increasing the average temperature and direct heat exposure in many places around the world.ObjectivesTo assess the potential impact on occupational health and work capacity for people exposed at work to increasing heat due to climate change.DesignA brief review of basic thermal physiology mechanisms, occupational heat exposure guidelines and heat exposure changes in selected cities.ResultsIn countries with very hot seasons, workers are already affected by working environments hotter than that with which human physiological mechanisms can cope. To protect workers from excessive heat, a number of heat exposure indices have been developed. One that is commonly used in occupational health is the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). We use WBGT to illustrate assessing the proportion of a working hour during which a worker can sustain work and the proportion of that same working hour that (s)he needs to rest to cool the body down and maintain core body temperature below 38°C. Using this proportion a ‘work capacity’ estimate was calculated for selected heat exposure levels and work intensity levels. The work capacity rapidly reduces as the WBGT exceeds 26–30°C and this can be used to estimate the impact of increasing heat exposure as a result of climate change in tropical countries.ConclusionsOne result of climate change is a reduced work capacity in heat-exposed jobs and greater difficulty in achieving economic and social development in the countries affected by this somewhat neglected impact of climate change.

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“…In Bangladesh, heat reduced work performance in metal workshops (35). Protective clothing increased heat stress and reduced performance (36).…”

Section: Impacts Of Workplace Heat Exposure On Worker Productivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Workplace heat stress, health and productivity – an increasing challenge for low and middle-income countries during climate change

Kjellström

Holmér

Lemke

2009

Global Health Action

572

391

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“…As average human body temperature is 37°C to 38°C and fevers do not typically exceed 41°C, we considered the detection limit of a 3:1 signal-to-noise ratio appropriate for our model system as this would also be the maximum physiological temperature range expected (41°C-38°C = 3°C). 18 - 20…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Direct Current Electrotherapy Be Used for Patients With Orthopedic Implants?

Thaler

Toledo

Korte

2017

Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil

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Introduction:Although electrotherapy appears to have particularly interesting applications in the field of postoperative orthopedic rehabilitation, relatively little scientifically based research has been conducted in the area of electrotherapy with regard to safety involving patients with orthopedic implants.Method:Three electrotherapy forms were tested, such as high-volt stimulation (HVS), transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS), and galvanic current (GAL), using a model system containing a metal implant plate to evaluate whether heating in excess of 3°C would occur.Results:All changes in temperature for HVS, GAL, and TENS therapeutic electrical currents observed in our model system fall below the predefined 3°C.Conclusion:To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimental based observation that prolonged exposure to a direct electrical current at therapeutic strength does not result in heating of metal titanium plates.

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“… 34 Heat exposure may be further exacerbated in workers wearing semipermeable or impermeable protective clothing, which can severely impede heat exchange though evaporation. 35 This may lead some workers to remove their protective clothing and increase their risk for workplace injury. 36 …”

Section: Heat Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational Heat Stress and Kidney Health: From Farms to Factories

Nerbass

Pécoits-Filho

Clark

et al. 2017

Kidney International Reports

136

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Millions of workers around the world are exposed to high temperatures, intense physical activity, and lax labor practices that do not allow for sufficient rehydration breaks. The extent and consequences of heat exposure in different occupational settings, countries, and cultural contexts is not well studied. We conducted an in-depth review to examine the known effects of occupational heat stress on the kidney. We also examined methods of heat-stress assessment, strategies for prevention and mitigation, and the economic consequences of occupational heat stress. Our descriptive review summarizes emerging evidence that extreme occupational heat stress combined with chronic dehydration may contribute to the development of CKD and ultimately kidney failure. Rising global temperatures, coupled with decreasing access to clean drinking water, may exacerbate the effects of heat exposure in both outdoor and indoor workers who are exposed to chronic heat stress and recurrent dehydration. These changes create an urgent need for health researchers and industry to identify work practices that contribute to heat-stress nephropathy, and to test targeted, robust prevention and mitigation strategies. Preventing occupational heat stress presents a great challenge for a concerted multidisciplinary effort from employers, health authorities, engineers, researchers, and governments.

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Heat stress and protective clothing: an emerging approach from the United States

Cited by 16 publications

References 16 publications

Workplace heat stress, health and productivity – an increasing challenge for low and middle-income countries during climate change

Workplace heat stress, health and productivity – an increasing challenge for low and middle-income countries during climate change

Can Direct Current Electrotherapy Be Used for Patients With Orthopedic Implants?

Occupational Heat Stress and Kidney Health: From Farms to Factories

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