Summary
The ISO 7243 heat stress standard based on the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) heat stress index and the analytical standard proposal ISO/DIS 7933 were evaluated in eight physically trained and eight untrained, unacclimated men during prolonged light exercise carried out while wearing industrial work clothing. The exercise tests were done in a thermoneutral (20°C/40%), a warm humid (30°C/80% humidity), and a hot dry (40°C/20% humidity) environment. Both of the standards were effective in predicting the excessive thermal strain observed in the dry and humid heat (WBGT, 28°C). In dry heat, neither of the standards took into account the higher sweating capacities of the physically trained men. The large inter-individual variability in the physiological responses to heat stress questioned the calculations of definite allowable exposure times (ISO/DIS 7933).
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Smolander, J., Ilmarinen, R. & Korhonen, O. An evaluation of heat stress indices (ISO 7243, ISO/DIS 7933) in the prediction of heat strain in unacclimated men. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 63, 39–41 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406196
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406196