Department of Ergonomics - Projects
Projects List
Abstract

Creation of a national centre for studies on reducing occupational risk in workers exposed to cold and heat

Project manager: Iwona Sudoł-Szopińska Ph.D. hab.

Project summary:

The aim of the task was to create a national Centre providing basis for the implementation of the provisions of the directive on standardization of legal regulations related to personal protective equipment and European standards on the basis of studies of both humans and a thermal manikin in a climatic chamber. The idea of the Centre was based on creation of blocks of tasks identified as priorities of future scientific research. The following 3 groups of blocks were identified: - group I (blocks 1-4) comprised tasks related to presentation the measuring equipment and the methodology of measurements,- group II (blocks 5-7) comprises a full spectrum of research activities conducted at the Centre,- group III (blocks 8-11) comprises tasks related to archiving measurement data, photographic documentation and references.The tasks related to the Centre resulted in creation an unique in Poland comprehensive research laboratory designed to conduct research on risks related to the influence of extreme (cold and heat) and moderate thermal environment on the human body. The Centre is ready to- measure and assess the thermal environment at the workplaces,- measure the influence of the thermal environment on human, taking into consideration the physiological and psychophysical response of the body to thermal stress,- measure thermal insulation of clothing, sleeping bags, etc.,- carry out acclimation of workers to work in the hot and cold microclimate,- calculate human thermal balance in the conditions of physical workload with continuous measurements of the metabolic rate, thermometry of the body, and the parameters of the microclimate,- measure the required thermal insulation of clothing IREQ, the time of exposure DLE in the cold environment, the required time of restitution, the WCI coefficient, predicted thermal load, PMV and PPD indicators and local discomfort PD.

Unit: Department of Ergonomics

Duration: 01.01.2005 – 31.12.2007