Heat Stress and Incident Rates for Heat-Related Disorders and Acute Injury During Deepwater Horizon Clean-Up Operations

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bernard T ; Hiles M
• Description:
  Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between outdoor thermal conditions and (1) heat-related disorders and (2) acute injuries using injury and illness data collected during the BP Deepwater Horizon cleanup operations. Methods: There were 5,485 heat-related or an acute injury cases over 11 months. Daily weather data were used to estimate the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) based on the time of day. Heat Stress Levels were baseline (HSL0: < 24 degree C-WBGT), HSL1 (24-27 degree C-WBGT), HSL2 (27-30 degree C-WBGT), HSL3 (30-33 degree C-WBGT) and HSL4 (> 33 degree C-WBGT). Labor-hours by month were estimated by the prevailing shift length in the month and the number of workers. The incidents were assigned a Heat Stress Level and the number of labor-hours by heat stress level were determined. The next step was to calculate the incident rate ratios (RRs) by Heat Stress Level. Results: For heat-related disorders, the RR increased from 6.2 at HSL1, to about 10 at HSL2 and HSL3 to 19 at HSL4. For acute injury, there was an increase from baseline to HSL1 (RR = 1.5) and then to HSL2 (2.3) and was similar for HSL3/4 (1.9) Conclusions: As a frame of reference, the occupational exposure limit was about 30 degree C-WBGT, the transition from HSL2 and HSL3. The rate of heat-related disorders increased above thermal comfort (HSL0) and below the exposure limit (HSL1 and HSL2). Some of this increase was likely due to aggressive recognition and treatment. Interestingly, there was a substantial increase at HSL4 (more than 3 degree C-WBGT above the exposure limit) that likely represents the effects of the heat. The major increases in acute injury occurred between thermal comfort and the exposure limit, meaning that the exposure level is not protective for acute injury. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Environmental Pollution Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Temperature Workplace
• Keywords:
  Deepwater Horizon Environmental Exposure Environmental Hazards Exposure Levels Heat Heat Exposure Heat Stress Injuries Outdoors Outdoor Workers Risk Factors Thermal Effects Traumatic Injuries Work Environment Workers

  More +
• 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
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20063334
• Citation:
  AIHce 2013: American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, May 18-23, 2013, Montreal, Quebec. Falls Church, VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2013 May; :125
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  Sunshine Education and Research Center, University of South Florida
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  AIHce 2013: American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, May 18-23, 2013, Montreal, Quebec
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c79934c1ebf1488cc5fe1372ef50015bd4142cf5954091fd0e7f07e00466f3edb9c45b09f6be810e49ee4ddc53a399eacc7a8863bfbeb01e41667a58931bb00e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/226413/cdc_226413_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 980.87 KB ]