Implementación de medidas de prevención y control de la exposición a estrés térmico en una empresa ecuatoriana productora de ladrillos y adoquines

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to implement measures for the prevention and control of heat stress exposure in workers of an Ecuadorian company that is dedicated to the production of bricks, fachaletas and pavers. For this purpose, it was applied the methodology of Technical Prevention Note NTP 322 "Heat stress risk assessment: WBGT index". Two situations of thermal stress were identified, one with the workers in the drying zone when the car is removed from the dryer and the second with the workers in the cooking zone who enter and remove the car from the kiln; in both cases, the calculated WBGT index exceeded the reference limit values of the WBGT index and the level of risk of exposure to thermal stress by heat was high. Control measures were determined for the means of transmission and prevention for the recipient in order to mitigate heat stress and its effects on workers not in the heat sources as both the oven and the dryer are designed so that during its operation necessarily will emanate radiant heat. With these measures that risk was lowered to an average level; while with water intake, workers were hydrated and decreased their internal body temperature by 1,3 % in the worker who takes the car out of the dryer, 1,7% in the one who put the car in the oven and 1,5 % in who removes the wagon from the kiln.