The prediction of temperatures and heat stress limits in the workplace with natural ventilation.

Abstract

This paper presents a simple procedure for using the climatic factors reported by weather bureaus to predict levels of heat stress and conditions of risk in the workplace. For an aluminum reduction plant with natural ventilation, the study showed that the air temperature inside followed the same pattern of annual changes as the normal maximum ambient temperature outside the building. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) was correlated significantly with air temperature (ta). With limited measurements, WBGT was predicted for the entire year at different locations in the shop.