thermal environment – Recognition, Evaluation, Control

Evaluating cold environments

Just a couple of days ago it was the first day of Spring. But it’s more like the middle of winter today in the north of England with heavy snow falling outside which has been blown around by a fairly strong wind. Perhaps the weather is appropriate as this week we’ve been running the BOHS/OHTA Module W502Continue reading “Evaluating cold environments”

TLVs for heat stress

This week we’re running the BOHS module M201 Thermal environment and non-ionising radiation (including lighting). This is one of the optional modules and most hygienists will only come across problems related to these topics on rare occasions. Consequently, after the course, it can be difficult to keep up to date with new research and developments.Continue reading “TLVs for heat stress”

Thermal Comfort – A different sort of problem

Yesterday I travelled up to Glasgow where I’d been invited to give presentation on “Thermal Comfort” to a meeting of the Scottish Region of the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS). Despite a few technical problems which delayed us starting (computers are great when they work!) the meeting went well and it was good to meetContinue reading “Thermal Comfort – A different sort of problem”

Heat stress indices

Assessing the risk from the thermal environment is not easy. One of the main reasons for this is that there are a large number of factors which affect our physiological response to heat. The main ones are Four environmental parameters Air temperature Mean radiant temperature Relative humidity Air velocity And three “human” factors Work rateContinue reading “Heat stress indices”

Heat Stress

The health risks associated with heat stress at work is a subject traditionally studied by occupational hygienists. In the past, in the UK, it was a compulsory component in the modular route to the Certificate examination. Currently it has been “relegated” to an optional module (although that may change in the future). However, questionsContinue reading “Heat Stress”

BOHS Meeting on the Thermal Environment

We had a good turnout at the meeting today in Ellesmere Port 28 people turned up to listen to four speakers who covered a number of aspects of managing the thermal environment. Doug Hiebert talked about how BNFL dealt with a problem at their Selafield site. Maintenance work has sometimes to be carried out inContinue reading “BOHS Meeting on the Thermal Environment”

Thermal Comfort

The thermal environment is one of the traditional topic areas studied by occupational hygienists. There are two issues: thermal stress and strain thermal comfort Excessive thermal stress means that the body has to work hard to avoid he core temperature moving outside narrow limits (37 + 2 C). If that happens we’re in a seriousContinue reading “Thermal Comfort”