Predicting Compensable Versus Uncompensable Heat Stress from Physiological State

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ashley C ; Bernard T ; Caravello V
• Description:
  The level of heat stress is dictated by environment, metabolic rate, and clothing. The physiological state in response to the heat stress can be seen in heart rate, core temperature, and skin temperature. A convenience set of data was used to examine the ability of physiological state to predict level of heat stress (i.e., compensable vs. uncompensable). The study trials were designed to find the transition point between compensable and uncompensable heat stress as it relates to environment, clothing, and work demands. The individual trials began with a low level of heat stress that allowed a physiological steady-state to be established, and then the environmental contribution was increased in small steps every 5 minutes. The upper limit of compensable heat stress was identified as the critical level of heat stress, and the physiological state noted. The physiological states at 15 min prior to and after the critical level were also noted. The pre-critical and critical levels were compensable heat stress and the post-critical level was uncompensated heat stress. The data set included 1461 observations over gender, 10 clothing ensembles, and 3 levels of metabolic rate. Logistical regression was used to predict the level of heat stress from the independent variables of skin temperature, core temperature, and heart rate along with potential effect modifiers of gender, clothing, and metabolic demands. Significant predictors were heart rate, skin temperature, gender, and metabolic demands. Most of the predictive power was in heart rate, skin temperature, and gender; skin temperature was the single best predictor. The results tentatively point to novel methods of personal monitoring and reporting risk in real time. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Occupational Health Safety Temperature
• Keywords:
  Heat Exposure Heat Stress Hot Environments Physiological Function Physiological Response Temperature Effects
• Publisher:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  40
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057940
• Citation:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, May 8-13, 2004, Atlanta, Georgia. Fairfax, VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2004 May; :40
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2004
• Performing Organization:
  University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20000930
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, May 8-13, 2004, Atlanta, Georgia
• End Date:
  20040929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b044149032fd9372dbd8de2bc78d5099de1b41796559835094e21c936b37362040d7876c0c4e9ca34f9375dbbeec11f47fb61034fd3599a9f6cdfe96c8d99a3a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215142/cdc_215142_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 314.43 KB ]