Evaluation and Design of the

Thermal Environment

Introduction
Lots of people have problems related to the
thermal environment at work
About 20% are exposed to low or high
temperatures, depending on the country
Mostly outside, some inside
Construction workers, kitchen staff, forge facilities,
warehouse employees, etc.

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Key Factors that Influence Heat

Stress
Climate
Air temperature
Radiant temperature
Wind speed
Humidity

Individual
Heat production
Thermal properties of clothing

Balance of Heat Loss & Gain in the Body

The body has very complex control
mechanisms to maintain a core temperature
near 37 deg. C (98.7 deg. F)
deviations of + 2 deg. C (+ 3 deg. F) can affect
performance and function of the body
deviations of + 6 deg. C (+ 10 deg. F) can be lethal

Balance of Heat Loss & Gain in the Body

Temperature in the peripheral parts of the
body (near skin) is not constant
Skin may vary greatly
typically 3-4 deg. C < core
In heat stress, 1-2 deg. C < core
In cold stress, 10-15 deg. C < core

Limbs are usually cooler than core

Balance of Heat Loss & Gain in the Body

Hypothalamus monitors core and skin temperature to
maintain heat balance
Key factors in heat balance
1. temperature exchange between core and skin
heat transport function of blood
control of circulation in skin
vasodilation - increase circulatory channel to increase blood flow capacity
constriction - decrease circulatory capacity

2. secretion and evaporation of sweat

3. in cold, increased rate of metabolic heat production (shivering)
4. changes in metabolic actvity

Contribution of Metabolism in the Heat

Balance of Body Temperature
Body converts chemical energy to
mechanical energy + heat (at varying rates)
Body uses metabolic heat to maintain core
temperature and dissipates extra to
surroundings if possible
Human body is 20% efficient in mechanical
work (every 1 Kcal work requires 5 Kcal heat)
5Kcal/min = 25Kcal/min heat generated

Contribution of Metabolism in the Heat

Balance of Body Temperature
Limits on bodys capacity to do work
determined mostly by maximum O2 uptake
capacity
At 75% VO2max and above (HR>150), heat
is produced faster than body can dissipate it
when thermal environment is considered
comfortable

Effects of Exposure to Cold

1. Local
damage to body surfaces
respiratory problems

2. Systemic
subjective tolerance not reliable
brain function begins to deteriorate at core temperatures
below 35 deg. C
shivering mechanism fails at core temps. below 34 deg. C
vasoconstriction fails at core temps. of 32 deg. C

Effects of Exposure to Heat

1. Localized Effects
burn, soreness, redness of skin

2. Systemic Effects
Chronic Heat Fatigue*: decrease in performance, inability to concentrate
Heat Cramps: painful spasms of the muscles during work caused by loss
of body salt in sweat
Heat Rash: tiny blisters on skin that plug sweat gland ducts
Heat Exhaustion: fatigue, nausea, may faint when there is a failure to
replace water and/or salt lost in sweat
Heat stroke: failure of the body to sweat leading to uncontrolled
acceleration of the rise in core temp.

Acclimating to Thermal Stress

Continuous or repeated exposure to hot or cold
conditions brings a gradual adjustment of the body
functions to those conditions
Heat - pronounced acclimation in one or two weeks
improved vascular flow
increased sweat production

Cold - very slight changes which have not been

well documented

Heat Balance
Sources of heat gain and loss
1. Heat is generated by Metabolism
is a function of resting metabolism heat and heat generated by external work

2. Heat is removed by Evaporation

is a function of workload, the persons sweat rate and the relative humidity of the environment

3. Heat can be removed or added by Convection or Conduction

convection - is a function of difference in air temperature and skin temperature, air velocity and the
amount of skin exposure
conduction - is a function of the difference in surface temperature and skin temperature

4. Heat can be removed or added by Radiation

Emitted through electromagnetic waves, it is a function the differences in a persons average skin
temperature and temperature of the surfaces in the environment

Heat Balance Equation

M-E+C+R=0
(when body temperature at equilibrium with environment)

In heat, balance is maintained by increasing

circulation to the skin and by sweating
In cold, balance is maintained by decreasing
circulation to the skin and by shivering

Physical Temperature Measurement

Dry-bulb Temperature (DB) - measurement
of air temperature using a thermometer
Natural Wet-Bulb Temperature (NWB)
measurement of humidity and expected heat
exchange due to evaporation (airflow is also
incorporated)
Globe Temperature (GT) - measurement of
heat transferred by radiation

Thermal Comfort
Temperature perception is a psychophysical
process, with our internal judgement of temperature
depending on the factors that affect heat exchange
Proposed Psychophysical Scales
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature - Dry bulb, wet bulb and
globe
Heat Stress Indices - Dry bulb, wet bulb, globe and
airflow
Wind chill - dry bulb and airflow

Control of Thermal Stress

1. Use Heat Stress Index or NIOSH Rec.s to evaluate the thermal
environment to determine which factors are causing the problem

2. Modify the thermal environment with engineering controls

heat: air conditioning, increase ventilation, insulate heat source, insulate
heat source
cold: increase temp., increase radiant heat (portable heaters), decrease
air velocity

3. Modify the thermal environment with administrative controls

heat: decrease duration of exposure, cool area for rest, supply liquids;
decrease M, cold: dec. dur., increase M