Study of heat exposure in the work environment in Jeddah.

The present work was conducted to define the magnitude of the problem of heat exposure in Jeddah and the role of both the climatic and the industrial factors on the total heat load. Indoor heat exposure was studied in an industrial complex of 5 plants for cables' manufacturing. Outdoor heat exposure was studied in shaded and unshaded operations in Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP). The heat exposure parameters, including air temperature (Ta), wet bulb temperature (Tw), and globe temperature (Tg), as well as the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) heat stress index, the relative humidity and the air velocity, were assessed at representative locations. Results of the study indicated that: (a) the levels of heat exposure exceeded the TLV in mostly all the work areas where no air-conditioning is provided. (b) the ambient heat is the factor contributing most to the heat load both in summer and in winter. (c) the radiant heat from furnaces and hot metal rolling and milling adds more heat load to the work environment in specific operations. An outline of a control strategy has been suggested, emphasizing evaporative engineering heat control, work and hygienic practices and auxiliary cooling clothing.