Measurement and Evaluation for Productivity in Extreme Hot Environment

Abstract:

The productivity in extreme hot environment is not only influenced by the complexity of the task and the technical proficiency of the workers, but also closely related to the heat stress caused by the hot environment. In this study, three methods of productivity measurement were introduced, mainly referred to their applications and limitations. The method of using thermal sensation vote was based on the subjective feelings, and its application was convenient. The method of using wet-bulb globe temperature was based on the environment parameters and working time. It can be applied to a wide range of high temperature. While the method of using predicted mean vote had more comprehensive considerations of environment parameters and thermal sensation, but the complexity measurement of the environment parameters limited the usefulness of this method. Different from the three methods, this study proposed the physiological stress index to be the argument in the calculation of productivity. The physiological stress index combines both the environmental intensity and labor intensity. It reflects physiological conditions of the workers directly and has the potential to predict the productivity online.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 209-211)
• Pages: 1496-1499
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.209-211.1496
• Online since: October 2012
• Authors: Yu Ping Sun, Neng Zhu, Zhe Tian
• Keywords: Extreme Hot Environment, Heat Stress Index, Productivity

References

[1] Clapp MA. The effect of adverse weather conditions on productivity on five building sites. Building Research Establishment, Watford Construction series current paper No. 21, 1966.

[2] Grimm CT, Wagner NK. Journal of the Construction Division 1974, p.319–335.

[3] Koehn E, Brown G. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management ASCE 1985, p.129–137.

[4] Korb S, Sherif M. Building and Environment 2003, vol.38 (2), p.339–345.

[5] Jing Zhao, Neng Zhu, Shilei Lv. Building and Environment 2009; vol.44, pp.2202-2207.

[6] Xiaojiang Ye, Zhiwei Lian, Cizhen Li, Yuanmou Liu. Chinese Journal of Ergonomics 2006; vol.12 , pp.4-6. In Chinese.

[7] ISO, ISO 7730: Moderate thermal environments—Determination of the PMV and PPD indices and speci8cation of the conditions for thermal comfort: International Organization for Standardization, 1995.

DOI: 10.3403/00814151

[8] ISO, ISO 7243: Hot environments-estimation of the heat stress on working man, based on the WBGT-index (wet bulb globe temperature).Geneva: ISO; 1989.

DOI: 10.3403/00321450u

[9] Astrand PO, Rodahl K. Textbook of work physiology: physiological bases of exercise, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1986.

[10] Shengzhao Long, Duansheng Huang. Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering Theory and Application Foundation. Beijing: Science Press, 2004. In Chinese.