Minimising the Effects of Environment on Health andProductivity

摘要

In the human body the balance between heat production and heat loss isrncontinuously being disturbed,either by changes in metabolic rate (workrnbeing the most influential)or by changes in the external environmentrn(heat stress),which alters heat loss.These changes in body temperaturerncan adversely affect the function of body systems and organs.As a result,rnheat production or heat loss processes are triggered in order to restorernnormal body temperature (36 -37 ℃).If the heat generating systems ofrnthe body are excessive or the environment hostile then the capacity of thernbody to maintain thermal homeostasis is exceeded and can lead to arnserious threat to health,or even death.This health deficit can severelyrnaffect an individual 's capacity to work optimally;the end result is bothrnpoor productivity and health.Strategies to minimise or eliminate thisrneffort will benefit both the health of workers and the productivity ofrncompanies.rnThe principal strategies to reduce the effects of the environment onrnworkers are:rn?engineering interventions :to improve environmental conditions andrnreduce heat stress;andrn?a comprehensive working in heat protocol :with provisions to identifyrnrisk situations and procedures to be adopted in relation to these.rnThe above points will be discussed in detail with practical and simplernstrategies proposed to combat the deleterious effects of heat in mining.