The Development of a Personal Response Heat Stress Meter Calibrated to the Physiology of the Range of Employees within the Mine Workplace

Abstract

An evaluation of the use of air cooling power as an index of the thermal environment is discussed. A body temperature prediction model based on body temperature tests, a concept linked to a maximum safe body temperature and the predicted fourth hour body temperature which depends on the rate of heat accumulation (heat storage) within the body has been developed and tested. This has led to the conceptual development of a personal response heat stress meter calibrated to the physiology of the personnel within the workplace. The proposed heat stress meter will be able to measure workplace environmental parameters such as air temperature, humidity and air velocity and the user can either select or manually enter other heat stress parameters such as work rate, clothing type and subject's personal response to heat. With a built-in computer program, the meter will calculate the ACP of the workplace, the fourth hour body core temperature expected and the maximum safe working time allowed for a pre-defined limiting body temperature. A brief description of the work required for developing the meter is included. The potential benefits of such instrument to the mining industry are also evaluated.

Meeting Name

6th International Mine Ventilation Congress (1997: May 17-22, Pittsburgh, PA)

Department(s)

Mining Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Air Cooling Power; Body Temperature Prediction Model; Heat Stress Meter; Thermal Environment

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1997 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc. (SME), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

22 May 1997

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