Topic 6 : Hazards of

Temperature ExtremesTopic Learning outcome :

1. Describe the definition of thermal comfort.

2. Explain the Heat stress and strain, and Cold stress condition.

3. Describe the identifying and assessing technique of hazardtemperature extreme.

4. Describe the temperature extreme control and preventionstrategies.

Introduction:

• Extreme temperatures, both cold and hot, have a significant effect on humanhealth and/or infrastructure- they can be dangerous.

• Humans are warm-blooded, that is, we have the physiological ability toregulate our body’s internal temperature, which is kept at 37°C ± 2°C. If thebody’s core temperature either rises or falls beyond this, then serious illnessor even death may result.

• 6 factors that impact on a person to determine how they feel hot or cold;Air temperature, humidity, radiant heat, Air movement, physical activity andclothing.

• Also additional factors that effect individual ; Weight, health, level of fitness,age, use of prescribed substances

• One all the influences on a individual are taken into account, that individualwill feel Thermal comfort, Thermal discomfort, Heat or Cold stress strain.

• In term of Health and Safety, heat and cold stress is a “significant hazard” andheat and cold strain is “serious harm”.

Thermal Comfort:

• Thermal comfort is defined in British Standard BS EN ISO 7730

as: that condition of mind which expresses satisfaction with the thermal

environment.’

• So the term ‘thermal comfort’ describes a person’s psychological stateof mind and is usually referred to in terms of whether someone isfeeling too hot or too cold.

• Thermal comfort is difficult to define because need to take into accounta range of environmental and personal factors when deciding what willmake people feel comfortable.

• 6 factors affecting thermal comfort are both environmental andpersonal.

Environmental factor :

Air temperature, Air velocity,

Radiant temperature,

Humidity.

Personal factor:

Metabolic heat, Clothing

Insulation

Thermal Comfort:

Why is thermal comfort important?

People working in uncomfortably hot and cold environments are morelikely to behave unsafely because their ability to make decisions and/orperform manual tasks deteriorates.

For example; people may take short cuts to get out of cold environments, orworkers might not wear personal protective equipment properly in hotenvironments increasing the risks, or

the workers' ability to concentrate on a given task may start to drop off andincreases the risk of errors occurring.

Thermal Comfort:

Calculating Thermal Comfort.

The predicted mean vote (PMV) and percentage people dissatisfied (PPD)index and use of BS EN ISO 7730 and BS EN ISO 10551 British standards arerecommended.

The PMV/PPD index predicts the thermal comfort of people working in agiven environment.

Heat Stress and Strain:

Heat Stress Definition :The net heat load on the body with contributions from both metabolic heatproduction, and external environmental factors (i.e. temperature, relativehumidity, radiant heat transfer and air movement), as they are affected byclothing.

There are THREE major forms of heat illness :

a) HEAT CRAMPS

- Muscle spasms which usually affect the arm, leg or stomach. Frequentlyoccur at night or when relaxing.

- Caused by heavy sweating, especially when water is replaced by drinkingbut not salt or potassium.

b) HEAT EXHAUSTION

- Surface blood vessels and capillaries which originally enlarged to cool theblood collapse from loss of body fluids and necessary minerals.

- This happens when we don't drink enough fluids to replace what weresweating away.

Heat Stress and Strain:

HEAT EXHAUSTION

- The symptoms of heat exhaustion include: headache, heavy sweating,intense thirst, dizziness, fatigue, loss of coordination, nausea, impairedjudgment, loss of appetite, hyperventilation, tingling in hands or feet, anxiety,cool moist skin, weak and rapid pulse (120-200)

c) HEAT STROKE

- Is a life threatening illness with a high death rate.

- It occurs when the body has depleted its supply of water and salt, and thevictim's body temperature rises to deadly levels.

- A heat stroke victim may first suffer heat cramps and/or the heatexhaustion before progressing into the heat stroke stage, but this is notalways the case.

- The early symptoms of heat stroke include a high body temperature ; adistinct absence of sweating (usually); hot red or flushed dry skin; rapidpulse; difficulty breathing; constricted pupils; any/all the signs orsymptoms of heat exhaustion

Heat Stress and Strain:

Heat Strain Definition :Heat strain refers to the acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term)

consequences of exposure to environmental heat stress on a person’s

physical and mental states.

The physical effects of heat strain can vary from less serious disorders

such as skin rashes and fainting, to serious life-threatening situations

where sweating stops and heat stroke develops.

The following conditions are indications that heat strain is occurring:

- Dehydration

- Heat syncope (fainting)

- Heat rashes

- Heat cramps

- Heat exhaustion

- Heat stroke

Cold Stress:

Definition :Cold stress is a response of the body to cold temperatures resulting from heatloss from a portion of the body, such as the feet, hands, limbs or head.

Types of Heat Loss:

1) Radiation - heat is lost to the environment due to temperature gradient.There is a difference in air temperature and body temperature.

2) Conduction- Heat loss through direct touch with a cold object. Heat loss isthe greatest when in direct contact with cold water.

3) Convection – Heat is lost from the body to the surrounding air as air movesacross a surface. This type of heat loss is dependent on air speed, withincreased wind speed there is greater heat lost.

4) Evaporation- Loss of heat due to water changing from liquid to gas. In thehuman body is accomplished through sweating and breathing. Evaporationof heat also causes the body to lose fluids, which can lead to dehydration.

Excessive exposure to cold can lead to hypothermia, which can be fatal.

Identifying and assessing hazards of

temperature extreme :

Hazard Identification Step

Hot Environment

Identify hazard Heat is likely to be a hazard if, in addition to the work process has :• High radiant heat (e.g. from a dryer, an oven or

furnace)• High humidity (e.g. kitchen or laundry)• A high worker metabolic load.• A person wearing clothing (such as PPE) that means

they cannot lose heat to the environment.

Assess hazards to determine if they are significant

Tools use to assess the heat hazard :• Visual assessment• Measuring the environment with a heat stress

monitor (wet bulb globe thermometer or WBGT)• Direct physiological measurements e.g. body

temperature and heart rate.

Identifying and assessing hazards of

temperature extreme :

Hazard Identification Step

Cold Environment

Identify hazard The following situation may present risk of cold stress :• Situation where work outside in cold or wet

weather.• Work and spend time in an artificially cold

environment e.g. walk-in fridge, cool store or freezer

• Any person doing occupational diving

Assess hazards to determine if they are significant

• Measurement of temperature and wind speed as well as observation of effects of cold on employees

Temperature extreme hazard control and

prevention strategies:

Hot Environment :1) Environment controls :

• Provide ventilation to give significant air current. An increased air velocityaids evaporation of sweat and cools the worker.

• Provide air conditioning either by reducing humidity or providing cooling.

• Shield the work environment from any radiant heat sources e.g. insulatingpipes.

2) Process Modification:

• Modify the process so that less heat is needed to carry out the task required.

• Reduce the heat created in carrying out a process to the lowest possiblelevel.

Temperature extreme hazard control and

prevention strategies:

Cold Environment :1) Work environment:

• The cooling effects of air movement should be reduced by the provision ofeffective shielding in the work area.

2) Equipment design:

• Metal handles and bars should be covered with thermal insulating materials.

3) Clothing:

• Protective clothing should be worn in all environments where work takesplace at temperature below 4oC.

• Hand protection need to be used when work at temperature below 16oC.

• Wear head covering as over 50% of heat loss is through the head.

Temperature extreme hazard control and

prevention strategies:

Cold Environment :4) Safe work Practices; examples :

• Do not allow bare skin to come into contact with cold surface below -7oC.

• Do not allow bare skin to come into contact with evaporative liquids e.g.petrol, cleaning fluids, alcohol.

• All work in cold conditions should be under constant observation (through abuddy system or supervision).

• New employees should not be required to work full-time in the cold untilthey have become accustomed to the working conditions.

• Apply lip balm and moisturizing lotions to prevent lesions.

• Maintain a high level of physical fitness.

- END-