CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Control of the climatic conditions at the workplace is paramount importance to the workers health

and comfort and to the maintenance of higher productivity. With excess heat or cold, workers

may feel very uncomfortable, and their efficiency drops. In addition, this can lead to accidents.

This human body functions in such a way as to keep the central nervous system and the

internal organs at a constant temperature. It maintains the necessary thermal balance by continuous

heat exchange with the environment. It is essential to avoid excessive hear or cold, and wherever

possible to keep the climatic conditions optimal so that the body can maintain a thermal balance.

WORKING IN A HOT ENVIRONMENT

Hot working environments are found almost everywhere. Work premise in tropical countries may,

on account of general climatic conditions, be naturally hot. When source of heat such as furnaces,

kilns or hot processes are present, or when the physical workload is heavy, the human body may

also have to deal with excess heat. It should be noted that in such hot working environments

sweating is almost the only way in which the body can lose heat. As the sweat evaporates, the

body cools. There is a relationship between the amount and speed of evaporation and a feeling

of comfort. The more intense the evaporation, the quicker the body will cool and feel refreshed.

Evaporation increases with adequate ventilation.

WORKING IN A COLD ENVIRONMENT

Working in cold environments was once restricted to non-tropical or highly elevated regions. Now

as a result of modern refrigeration, various groups of workers, even in tropical countries, are

exposed to a cold environment.

Exposure to cold for short periods of time can produce serious effects, especially when

workers are exposed to temperatures below 10°C The loss of body heat is uncomfortable and

quickly affects work efficiency. Workers in cold climates and refrigerated premises should be

well protected against the cold by wearing suitable clothes, including footwear, gloves and, most

importantly, a hat. Normally, dressing in layers traps dead air and serves as an insulation layer,

thus keeping the worker

CONTROL OF THE THERMAL ENVIRONMENT

There are many ways of controlling the thermal environment. It is relatively easy to assess the

effects of thermal conditions, especially when excessive heat or cold is an obvious problem. To

solve the problem, however, consistent efforts using a variety of available measures are usually

necessary. This is because the problem is linked with the general climate, which greatly affects

the workplace climate, production technology, which is often the source of heat or cold and

varying conditions of the work premises as well as work methods and schedules. Personal factors

such as clothing, nutrition, personal habits, and age and individual differences in response to the

given thermal conditions also need to be taken into account in the attempt to attain the thermal

comfort of workers.

In controlling the thermal environment, one or more of the following principles may be applied:

1. Regulating workroom temperature by preventing outside heat or cold from entering

(improved design of the roof, insulation material or installing an air-conditioned workroom.

Air-conditioning is costly, especially in factories. But it is sometimes a worthwhile

investment if an appropriate type is chosen);

2. provision of ventilation in hot workplaces by increasing natural ventilating through openings

or installing ventilation devices;

3. separation of heat sources from the working area, insulation of hot surfaces and pipes,

or placement of barriers between the heat sources and the workers;

4. control of humidity with a view to keeping it at low levels, for example by preventing the

escape of steam from pipes and equipment;

5. Provision of adequate personal protective clothing and equipment for workers exposed

to excessive radiant heat or excessive cold (heat-protective clothing with high insulation

value may not be recommended for jobs with long exposure to moderate or heavy work

as it prevents evaporative heat loss);

6. Reduction of exposure time, for example, by mechanization, remote control or alternating

work schedules;

7. Insertion of rest pauses between work periods, with comfortable, if possible air-conditioned,

resting facilities;

8. Ensuring a supply of cold drinking-water for workers in a hot environment and of hot

drinks for those exposed to a cold environmen