Análise dos níveis de calor nos postos de trabalho de uma lavanderia industrial

Abstract

This essay has the general objective to measure the levels temperature at workstations qualitatively selected in an industrial laundry located in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba. Many workers spend part of their workday exposed to adverse conditions of heat, which represents certain dangers to their health and safety. The anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of these risks must be present in the Environmental Risk Prevention Program and also in the Medical Control of Occupational Health Program, documents legally required and grounded in Regulatory Norms 9 and 7 of the Labor Ministry, respectively. When the heat exchange between the human body and the environment occur without great effort, the human’s feeling is thermal comfort and its ability to work, from this point of view, it is maximum. The thermal comfort is function of performed activity by the worker, their clothing and environment variables that provide heat exchange between the body and the environment. The body reacts to high external temperatures mainly through excessive loss of fluids and salts, causing cramps, fatigue, headaches and fainting. Using a globe thermometer, the temperature measurements were performed, calculated Wet Bulb Globe Temperature indices and the data obtained were compared with the heat exposure tolerance limits, under intermittent work with periods of rest onsite, following the instructions of Regulatory Norm 15. The results indicate that the exit of the Hot Box 1 is the most critical point where work is not allowed without control tools, once the WBGT obtained was 34.2° featuring this job C, station as unhealthy. Other measured points indicate the need for rest periods. Out of these results, suggestions for improvements and adjustments to make the site suitable for ergonomic and thermally employees work and thus reduce the chances of accidents.