Heat Stress Monitors (WBGT)

Heat stress monitors are used to estimate workers' thermal stress due to temperature, humidity and work-effort. The most common instruments use Wet Bulb temperature (humidity), Globe Temperature (radiant heating) and work area temperature to calculate an Indoor and Outdoor Heat Stress Index which is then used to establish work schedules (minutes work/minutes rest). Instruments that can measure workers core body temperature are also available, though are not commonly used outside of a research environment.

The following is quoted from the section on Heat Stress in OSHA's Technical Manual

"Operations involving high air temperatures, radiant heat sources, high humidity, direct physical contact with hot objects, or strenuous physical activities have a high potential for inducing heat stress in employees engaged in such operations. Such places include: iron and steel foundries, nonferrous foundries, brick-firing and ceramic plants, glass products facilities, rubber products factories, electrical utilities (particularly boiler rooms), bakeries, confectioneries, commercial kitchens, laundries, food canneries, chemical plants, mining sites, smelters, and steam tunnels.

"Outdoor operations conducted in hot weather, such as construction, refining, asbestos removal, and hazardous waste site activities, especially those that require workers to wear semipermeable or impermeable protective clothing, are also likely to cause heat stress among exposed workers. .

• Age, weight, degree of physical fitness, degree of acclimatization, metabolism, use of alcohol or drugs, and a variety of medical conditions such as hypertension all affect a person's sensitivity to heat. However, even the type of clothing worn must be considered. Prior heat injury predisposes an individual to additional injury.
• It is difficult to predict just who will be affected and when, because individual susceptibility varies. In addition, environmental factors include more than the ambient air temperature. Radiant heat, air movement, conduction, and relative humidity all affect an individual's response to heat."

OSHA Technical Manual on Heat Stress

Casella

• WBGT Real-Time Heat Stress Monitor

Sper Scientific

• 800036 WBGT Real-Time Heat Stress Monitor (data-links to computer)
• 800037 WBGT Real-Time Heat Stress Monitor with data logging

Return to SMG/interlink®
For more information  Email   SMG/Interlink®
Interlink Marketing Corporation
dba SMG/interlink®
PO Box 260795
Plano, Texas 75026
Toll free 1-800-804-6196
Ph: 972-985-0883
Fx: 972-985-3252
2203 Glen Forest Ln
Plano, Texas 75023

Copyright © 1997-2012 Interlink Marketing Corporation