Climate

(fromAncient Greekklima, meaninginclination) is

commonly defined as the weather averaged over a long period. The standard averaging period is 30years,]but other periods may be used depending on the purpose. Climate also includes statistics other than the average, such as the magnitudes of day-to-day or year-to-year variations. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) glossary definition is:

Climate in a narrow sense is usually defined as the "average weather," or more rigorously, as the statistical description in terms of the mean and variability of relevant quantities over a period ranging from months to thousands or millions of years. The classical period is 30years, as defined by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). These quantities are most often surface variables such as temperature, precipitation, and wind. Climate in a wider sense is the state, including a 4/22/12 statistical description, of the climate system.

What is 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 persons psychological state of mind and is usually referred to in terms of whether someone is feeling too hot or too cold. Thermal comfort is very difficult to define because you need to take into account a range of environmental and personal factors when deciding what will make people feel comfortable. These factors make up what is known as the human thermal environment. The best that you can realistically hope to achieve is a thermal environment that satisfies the majority of people in the workplace, or put more simply, reasonable comfort. HSE considers 80% of occupants as a reasonable limit for the minimum number of people who should be thermally comfortable in an environment. So thermal comfort is not measured by air temperature, but by the number of employees complaining of thermal discomfort. To better understand why air temperature alone is not a valid indicator of 4/22/12 thermal comfort, see thesix basic factors.

Adapting to the thermal environment

People employ adaptive strategies to cope with their thermal environment, donning or removing clothing, unconscious changes in posture, choice of heating, moving to cooler locations away from heat sources, etc. The problems arise when this choice (to remove jacket, or move away from heat source) is removed, and people are no longer able to adapt. In many instances the environment within which people work is a product of the processes of the job they are doing, so they are unable to adapt to their 4/22/12

The Six Basic Factors

Environmental factors:

Air temperature Radiant tempertaure Air velocity

Humidity
Clothing Insulation Metabolic heat
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Personal factors:

Environmental factors
Air temperature

This is the temperature of the air surrounding the body. It is usually given in degrees Celsius (C) or degrees Fahrenheit (F). Radiant temperature

Thermal radiation is the heat that radiates from a warm object. Radiant heat may be present if there are heat sources in an environment. Radiant temperature has a greater influence than air temperature on how we lose or gain heat to the environment. Our skin absorbs almost as much radiant energy as a matt black object, although this may be reduced by wearing reflective clothing. Examples of radiant heat sources include: the sun; fire; 4/22/12

Air velocity

This describes the speed of air moving across the worker and may help cool the worker if it is cooler than the environment. Air velocity is an important factor in thermal comfort because people are sensitive to it. Still or stagnant air in indoor 4/22/12

Humidity

If water is heated and it evaporates to the surrounding environment, the resulting amount of water in the air will provide humidity. Relative humidity is the ratio between the actual amount of water vapor in the air and the maximum amount of water vapor that the air can hold at that air temperature. Relative humidity between 40% and 70% does not have a major impact on thermal comfort. In some offices, humidity is usually kept between 40-70% because of computers. However, in workplaces which are not air conditioned, or where the 4/22/12 climatic conditions outdoors may influence the

High humidity environments have a lot of vapor in the air, which prevents the evaporation of sweat from the skin. In hot environments, humidity is important because less sweat evaporates when humidity is high (80%+). The evaporation of sweat is the main method of heat loss in humans. When vapor-impermeable PPE is worn, the humidity inside the garment increases as the wearer 4/22/12

Personal factors
Clothing insulation

Clothing, by its very nature, interferes with our ability to lose heat to the environment. Thermal comfort is very much dependent on the insulating effect of clothing on the wearer. Wearing too much clothing or personal protective equipment (PPE) may be a primary cause of heat stress even if the environment is not considered warm or hot. If clothing does not provide enough insulation, the wearer may be at risk from cold injuries such as frost bite or hypothermia in cold conditions. Clothing is both a potential cause of thermal discomfort as well as a control for it as we adapt to the climate in which we live and play. You may add layers of clothing if you feel cold, or remove layers of clothing if you feel warm. How ever, many companies remove this ability for their employees to make reasonable adaptations to their clothing.
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Work rate/metabolic heat The work or metabolic rate, is essential for a thermal risk assessment. It describes the heat that we produce inside our bodies as we carry out physical activity. The more physical work we do, the more heat we produce. The more heat we produce, the more heat needs to be lost so we dont overheat. The impact of metabolic rate on thermal comfort is critical. When considering these factors, it is also 4/22/12 essential to consider a person's own

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 lay down particular requirements for most aspects of the working environment. Regulation 7 deals specifically with the temperature in indoor workplaces and states that: During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable. However, the application of the regulation depends on the nature of the workplace, such as a bakery, a cold store, an office, a warehouse.

Workplace temperature

The associatedACOP( Workplace health, safety and welfare. Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) R ) goes on to explain: The temperature in workrooms should provide reasonable comfort without the need for special clothing. Where such a temperature is impractical because of hot or cold processes, all reasonable steps should be taken to achieve a temperature which is as close as possible to comfortable. 'Workroom' means a room where people normally work for more than short periods. 4/22/12 The temperature in workrooms should normally be at least 16 degrees

GUIDELINES in HEAT and COLD HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS

Optimal Conditions Typically staff and student concerns about indoor thermal comfort occur in areas that are poorly ventilated and/or inadequately shaded from sunlight. Individual thermal comfort can also be affected by physical exertion, crowded working areas and some medical conditions. The NSW Work Cover Authority has issued guidelines on indoor thermal comfort which describe optimal conditions for occupational health and safety in an office environment. These are outlined below:

optimum summer temperature range 21-24 o C acceptable summer temperature range 20-26 o C optimum humidity range 40-60% minimum recommended fresh air rate 10 Litres per second (L/s) per person or 10 L/s per 10 m2 for mechanical ventilation systems 4/22/12 air movement 0.1-0.5 m/s (naturally ventilated), 0.1-0.2 m/s Optimum

Heat stress

The guidance is aimed primarily at employers, managers, occupational health professionals and safety personnel. The objective is to provide a systematic, approach to the decisions required to minimize or reduce the risk of heat stress in your workforce. Employees will also find the information useful in understanding why their employer is taking this approach. There will be workplaces for which the methods described in this guidance may not be able to provide a specific solution and you may be required to seek expert advice. By applying the information in these web pages, you have shown that you have adhered to 4/22/12

Why worry about heat stress?

Unless someone collapses from heat exhaustion, the possible health effects of working in the heat may not be obvious. This means it requires employers to identify
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OUTDOOR WORKING
Hot environments

Reschedule work to cooler times of the day Provide more frequent rest breaks and introduce shading to rest areas Provide free access to cool drinking water Introduce shading in areas where individuals are working Encourage the removal of personal protective equipment when resting to help encourage heat loss. Educate workers about recognizing the early symptoms of heat stress

Working in the sun

Too much sunlight is harmful to your skin. A tan is a sign that the 4/22/12 skin has been damaged. The damage is caused by ultraviolet (UV)

Who is at risk?

If work keeps you outdoors for a long time your skin could be exposed to more sun than is healthy for you. Outdoor workers that could be at risk include farm or construction workers, market gardeners, outdoor activity workers and some public service workers. You should take particular care if you have: fair or freckled skin that doesnt tan, or goes red or burns before it tans;

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What can you do to protect yourself?

Keep your top on (ordinary clothing made from close woven fabric, such as long sleeved work shirt and jeans stops most UV) Wear a hat with a brim or a flap that covers the ears and the back of the neck. Stay in the shade whenever possible, during your breaks and especially at lunch time. Use a high factor sunscreen of at least SPF15 on any exposed skin. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
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Check your skin regularly for any unusual moles or

COLD CONDITIONS
Indoor thermal comfort may also be of concern to staff and students during winter. Reference to Work Cover and Federal Department of Employment and Industrial Relations guidelines gives the following optimum winter conditions:

optimum winter temperature range 19-22 o C about 1-3 o C lower than summer temperatures acceptable winter temperature range 18-24 o C also lower than in summer optimum humidity range 40-60% - the same as for 4/22/12 summer

optimum air movement 0.1-0.5 m/s (naturally ventilated), 0.1-0.2 m/s (air-conditioned) - the same as for summer. When conditions differ from those listed above, productivity and efficiency are likely to be adversely affected.

The following short term measures can be taken locally to alleviate discomfort:
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wear appropriate clothing such as

use effective room heaters in non air-conditioned areas - see the Risk Management Office Guidelines for Room Heaters. Note that floor model bar radiators are prohibited in the University because of their high risk of starting fires. Note also that overhead radiant heaters are not generally effective and can add to a feeling of discomfort when the head is hot, but the feet remain cold in air-conditioned areas, report operational problems to the Facilities Management Office Service Desk(for Camper down/Darlington Campus) or local maintenance staff for investigation and correction. Note that use of personal fans or heaters in air-conditioned areas 4/22/12 where people are experiencing discomfort can

Cold stress

HSE provides guidance on preventing cold stress Employers and employees should note that where HSE does not have specific guidance working in temperatures below 12C, compliance with British/European Standards ensures you are working to the minimum standard expected. As a first point of reference in these circumstances employers/employees are advised to refer to the following British Standards: BS EN 511: Specification for protective gloves against cold
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BS 7915: 1998 Ergonomics of the thermal environment : Guide to design and evaluation of working practices for cold indoor environments. ISO 11079 Evaluation of cold environments - Determination of required clothing insulation (IREQ) ISO 15743 Ergonomics of the thermal environment - cold workplaces - risk assessment and management
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OUTDOOR WORKING
Cold environments Ensure thepersonal protective equipment issued is appropriate Provision of mobile facilities for warming up, and encourage the drinking of warm fluids such as soup or hot chocolate Introduce more frequent rest breaks Can work be delayed and undertaken at warmer times of the year without compromising on safety Educate workers about recognizing the early symptoms of cold stress.
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CLIMATE CONTROL

Local measures that can be taken to alleviate uncomfortably hot and humid conditions and risks of dehydration are:

use blinds and curtains to minimize sunlight penetration into the workplace optimize air movement by using a fan, as air passing over the skin 4/22/12 helps to cool the skin

temperature in the workplace humidity level in the workplace, including subjective feelings about this - see below radiant heat in the workplace level of physical activity in the tasks being performed by staff see below whether the work performed by staff involves safety-critical 4/22/12

individual conditioning to work in heat and humidity specific individual needs such as arising from medical conditions. Humidity levels cannot be measured readily, but a standard thermometer can be used to give temperature readings. Therefore, recommendations for modifying work activities are based on temperature ranges. When humidity is high, 4/22/12

Controlling Climate in Workplace

Administrative controls

Administrative controls include planning and rescheduling work times and practices and rest schedules, for example, scheduling hot work for cooler times of day or giving workers flexible hours to help avoid the worst effects of working in high temperatures. Administrative controls are generally of a short term, 4/22/12 temporary nature and are also widely

Engineering controls

These should be the first choice to reduce or eliminate the hazard. Although the initial cost of engineering controls seems high, it has been found that the implementation cost is often offset by the resulting improvements to production and decrease in downtime, with reduced absenteeism and improved motivation. It is important to stress that any practical solution to controlling 4/22/12 thermal comfort is likely to require a

Heating

Many types of heating systems are available: hot air based heating systems; water based central heating systems using radiators; combined heat and ventilation systems using air conditioning systems; electrical heating systems using electrical heaters; 4/22/12

Air movement

There are many methods for increasing air movement. Small personal fans can provide a refreshing movement of air on the face. Larger oscillating fans can provide a swirling air movement, though some people may find this draughty. There may also be noise problems.
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Large diameter fans suspended from

Air conditioning

This can range from small units that lower the air temperature but do not control humidity levels or air movement, to large units that can cope with extreme conditions as well as humidity and air movement. When air conditioning systems are used, care should be taken to ensure uniform air distribution throughout the workplace, otherwise some workers may complain of feeling cold while 4/22/12 others are feeling hot.

Thermal insulation

There are many different types of thermal insulation materials, loose fills, rock wool and boards. The material acts as a barrier, which slows heat flow in the summer and heat loss in the winter, but it is only effective where there is a temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the building or between two areas inside a 4/22/12