Three key factors increase the risk of heat stress among hazardous waste abatement workers: 1) mandatory use of vapor-barrier clothing, which impairs heat exchange (White, et al 7+; Nunneley 59+; Bishop, et al 216+; Smith, et al 147+; Dessureault, et al 200+); 2) high levels of energy expenditure (Favata, et al 79+; Belard and Stanevich 903+); and 3) exposure to consistently hot work environments. To protect workers against heat stress, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists publishes "Threshold Limit Values and Physical and Biological Exposures Indices." However, these recommendations apply only to personnel wearing normal work clothing, while existing work-rest tables apply only to workers wearing Tyvek coveralls (Goldman 35).
展开▼
