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

2019; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 61; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/jom.0000000000001604

1536-5948

Suwei Wang, Molly B. Richardson, Connor Y. H. Wu, Carly D. Cholewa, Claudiu T. Lungu, Benjamin F. Zaitchik, Julia M. Gohlke,

Noise Effects and Management

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 recommendations, more hours fell into the most protective schedule (0 to 15 min work/45 to 60 min rest) using WBGT (personal) versus WBGT (WS) (17.4% vs 14.4%). Conclusions: Temperatures from wearable thermometers, together with meteorological data, can serve as an additional method to identify occupational heat stress exposure and recommend work–rest schedules.