2007, Piran, Slovenia
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2007, Piran, Slovenia

2007, Piran, Slovenia 2007, Piran, Slovenia

lboro.ac.uk
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Environmental Ergonomics XII Igor B. Mekjavic, Stelios N. Kounalakis & Nigel A.S. Taylor (Eds.), © BIOMED, Ljubljana 2007 COMPUTER APPLICATION FOR THERMAL RISK AND DISCOMFORT ASSESSMENT IN COLD WORKPLACES Pilar Armendáriz Pérez de Ciriza and Eduardo Gil Iglesias National Institute for Safety and Hygiene at Work, Ministry of Labour and Social Affaires, Madrid, Spain Contact person: parmenda@mtas.es INTRODUCTION Occupational exposure to cold environments can result in the loss of body heat that can have adverse effects on discomfort and health. It may also induce illnesses and injuries related to the cold, and promote the beginning or the worsening of symptoms associated with certain illnesses. Cold reduces the manual dexterity, even when gloves are worn, and it disturbs physical performance. Besides, cold may distract workers and alter behaviour, which may have unfavourable consequences for safety and productivity. Among risks derived from cold stress, the risk of hypothermia, or cooling of the body as a whole, may have worst consequence for workers’ health, because acute hypothermia can lead to death. Cold stress can increase the risk of cooled tissues of the extremities and face suffering freezing and lesions of affected parts. Some work in enclosed places, and especially those that are carried out in cold stores, require cold conditions to be carried performed correctly. In other cases, such as construction, agriculture, etc. work is performed outdoors, and therefore workers are exposed to the cold in winter. METHODS EVALFRÍO is based on the cold stress assessment methods contained in the Spanish experimental standard UNE-ENV ISO 11079: 1998 Evaluation of cold environments. Determination of required clothing isolation (IREQ) (ISO/TR 11079:1993). The assessment of hypothermia risk is based on a calculation of the body heat exchange and of the required clothing isolation (IREQ) that worker's clothes should provide for the maintenance of a thermal equilibrium during the work situation being evaluated. As there is an upper limit for the amount of isolation clothing can provide, a duration limit exposure (Dlim) can be calculated for the existing clothing isolation on the basis of acceptable body cooling as well as the recovery time (RT) that worker should be allowed in a warm place to restore normal body heat balance. RESULTS EVALFRÍO assesses cold risks and discomfort and creates databases with data results or just assesses cold risks. Occupational preventionists can evaluate risk of hypothermia and cold discomfort in the body as a whole with the required clothing isolation index (IREQ) and local cooling risks and discomfort in hands and feet with skin temperature measurements and in respiratory tract with air temperature measurements, both indoor and outdoor. For outdoors environments, EVALFRÍO also evaluates convective cooling in bare skin with wind chill index (WCI) or chill temperature. DISCUSSION The computer application EVALFRÍO has been developed as an easy tool to help occupational practitioners in the assessment of cold stress risks at work, and to provide 552

Working Environment results, conclusions and information so that appropriate preventive and control measures can be taken. REFERENCES EN ISO 8996:2003. Ergonomics. Determination of metabolic heat production. ISO 9920:1995. Ergonomics of the thermal environment - Estimation of the thermal insulation and evaporative resistance of to clothing ensemble. National Institute for Working Life, 1998. Problems with cold work. Proceedings from an international symposium held in Stockholm, Sweden, Grand Hôtel Saltsjöbaden, November 16-20, 1997. Estocolmo: Arbetslivsintitutet. Parsons K. C., 1993. Human thermal environments, London. Taylor & Francis. The National Board of Health and Welfare, 1997. Hypothermia–cold - induced reviles. Estocolmo: Socialstyrelsen. UNE-EN 28996:1995. Ergonomía. Determinación de la producción de calor metabólico. UNE-ENV ISO 11079:1998. Evaluación de ambientes fríos. Determinación del aislamiento requerido para la vestimenta. UNE-EN 27726:2001 Ambientes térmicos. Instrumentos y métodos de medida de las magnitudes físicos. 553

Working Environment<br />

results, conclusions and information so that appropriate preventive and control measures can<br />

be taken.<br />

REFERENCES<br />

EN ISO 8996:2003. Ergonomics. Determination of metabolic heat production.<br />

ISO 9920:1995. Ergonomics of the thermal environment - Estimation of the thermal<br />

insulation and evaporative resistance of to clothing ensemble.<br />

National Institute for Working Life, 1998. Problems with cold work. Proceedings from an<br />

international symposium held in Stockholm, Sweden, Grand Hôtel Saltsjöbaden,<br />

November 16-20, 1997. Estocolmo: Arbetslivsintitutet.<br />

Parsons K. C., 1993. Human thermal environments, London. Taylor & Francis.<br />

The National Board of Health and Welfare, 1997. Hypothermia–cold - induced reviles.<br />

Estocolmo: Socialstyrelsen.<br />

UNE-EN 28996:1995. Ergonomía. Determinación de la producción de calor metabólico.<br />

UNE-ENV ISO 11079:1998. Evaluación de ambientes fríos. Determinación del aislamiento<br />

requerido para la vestimenta.<br />

UNE-EN 27726:2001 Ambientes térmicos. Instrumentos y métodos de medida de las<br />

magnitudes físicos.<br />

553

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