Apparent Temperature Distribution on Scaffoldings during Construction Works
Commenced in January 2007
Frequency: Monthly
Edition: International
Paper Count: 32769
Apparent Temperature Distribution on Scaffoldings during Construction Works

Authors: I. Szer, J. Szer, K. Czarnocki, E. Błazik-Borowa

Abstract:

People on construction scaffoldings work in dynamically changing, often unfavourable climate. Additionally, this kind of work is performed on low stiffness structures at high altitude, which increases the risk of accidents. It is therefore desirable to define the parameters of the work environment that contribute to increasing the construction worker occupational safety level. The aim of this article is to present how changes in microclimate parameters on scaffolding can impact the development of dangerous situations and accidents. For this purpose, indicators based on the human thermal balance were used. However, use of this model under construction conditions is often burdened by significant errors or even impossible to implement due to the lack of precise data. Thus, in the target model, the modified parameter was used – apparent environmental temperature. Apparent temperature in the proposed Scaffold Use Risk Assessment Model has been a perceived outdoor temperature, caused by the combined effects of air temperature, radiative temperature, relative humidity and wind speed (wind chill index, heat index). In the paper, correlations between component factors and apparent temperature for facade scaffolding with a width of 24.5 m and a height of 42.3 m, located at south-west side of building are presented. The distribution of factors on the scaffolding has been used to evaluate fitting of the microclimate model. The results of the studies indicate that observed ranges of apparent temperature on the scaffolds frequently results in a worker’s inability to adapt. This leads to reduced concentration and increased fatigue, adversely affects health, and consequently increases the risk of dangerous situations and accidental injuries

Keywords: Apparent temperature, health, safety work, scaffoldings.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1316157

Procedia APA BibTeX Chicago EndNote Harvard JSON MLA RIS XML ISO 690 PDF Downloads 878

References:


[1] Central Statistical Office, 2016, Accidents at work. Information and statistical studies (in Polish), Warsaw.
[2] B. Hoła, Jakościowe i ilościowe modelowanie wypadkowości w budownictwie, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego, Wrocław, 2008 (in Polish).
[3] B. Hoła, M. Szóstak, “An Occupational Profile of People Injured in Accidents at Work in the Polish Construction Industry”, Procedia Engineering 208 (2017) 43–51.
[4] K. Maarten van Aalst, “The impacts of climate change on the risk of natural disasters,” Disasters, vol. 30, no. 1, 2006, pp. 5−18.
[5] S. Coccolo, J. Kämpf, J. L. Scartezzini, D. Pearlmutter, “Outdoor human comfort and thermal stress: A comprehensive review on models and standards”, Urban Climate, Volume 18, December 2016, Pages 33-57.
[6] R.D. Brown, T.J. Gillespie, Microclimatic Landscape Design: Creating Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency, Wiley 1995.
[7] P. Höppe, “The physiological equivalent temperature - a universal index for the biometeorological assessment of the thermal environment”, Int. J. Biometeorol., 43 (1999), pp. 71-75).
[8] AP Gagge , AP Fobolets , LG Berglund, A Standard Predictive Index of Human Response to the Thermal Environment, ASHRAE Transactions 92, 1986, s. 709–731.
[9] J. Pickup, R. De Daer, An outdoor thermal comfort index (OUT_SET*) - Part I – The Model and its Assumptions, (w:) R. de Dear, J. Kalma, T. Oke, A. Auliciems (red.), Biometeorology and Urban Climatology at the Turn of the Millenium. Selected Papers from the Conference ICB-ICUC’99, Sydney, 8–12 Nov. 1999, WMO, Geneva, WCASP-50, s. 279–283.
[10] K. Blazejczyk, MENEX_2005. The Updated Version of Man-Environment Heat Exchange Model, 2005.
[11] K. Błażejczyk, P. Broede, D. Fiala, G. Havenith, I. Holmér, G. Jendritzky, B. Kampmann, A. Kunert, “Principles of the new Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and its application to bioclimatic research in european scale”, Miscellanea Geographica 14, 2010, Pages 91-102.
[12] F.R. d'Ambrosio Alfano, B.I. Palella, G. Riccio, “Thermal Environment Assessment Reliability Using Temperature — Humidity Indices”, Industrial Health, 49 (2011), pp. 95 – 106.
[13] National Weather Service, www.weather.gov
[14] R.G. Steadman, “The assessment of sultriness. Part I: A temperature-humidity index based on human physiology and clothing science”, J Appl Meteorol 18, 1979, pp. 861–87.3
[15] L.P. Rothfusz, The heat index equation. NWS Southern Region Technical Attachment, SR/SSD Fort Worth Texas, 990, pp. 90–23.
[16] P.A. Siple, C.F. Passel, “Measurements of dry atmospheric cooling in subfreezing temperatures”, Proceedings American Philosophy Society, 89, 1945, pp. 177–199.
[17] K. Błażejczyk, A. Kunert, Bioclimatic conditioning of recreation and tourism in Poland, Polish Academy of Sciences, 2011, in Polish.
[18] E. Błazik-Borowa, J. Szer, “Basic elements of the risk assessment model for the occurrence of dangerous events on scaffoldings,” Przegląd budowlany, vol. 10, 2016, pp. 24–29, in Polish.
[19] M. Jabłoński, J. Szer, I. Szer, E. Błazik-Borowa, “Acoustic climate on scaffolding,” Materiały budowlane, vol. 8, 2017, pp.32–34.
[20] E. Błazik-Borowa, J. Bęc, A. Robak, J. Szulej, P. Wielgos, I. Szer, “Technical factors affecting safety on a scaffolding,” in Towards better Safety, Health, Wellbeing, and Life in Construction, Emuze Fidelis, Behm Mike Ed. Bloemfointein: Department of Built Environment Central Universitty of Technology, 2017, pp. 154–163.
[21] P. Jamińska-Gadomska, T. Lipecki, J. Bęc, E. Błazik-Borowa, „In-situ measurements of wind action on scaffoldings,” The Proc. Of European-African Conference on Wind Engineering, Liege, Belgium, 2017.
[22] K. Czarnocki, E. Błazik-Borowa, E. Czarnocka, J. Szer, B. Hoła, M. Rebelo, K. Czarnocka, “Scaffold use risk assessment model for construction process safety,” in Towards better Safety, Health, Wellbeing, and Life in Construction, Emuze Fidelis, Behm Mike – Bloemfointein Ed. Department of Built Environment Central University of Technology, 2017, pp. 275–284.
[23] I. Szer, E. Błazik-Borowa, J. Szer, “The influence of environmental factors on employee comfort based on an example of location temperature,” Archives of Civil Engineering, vol. LXIII, 2017, pp. 193-174.
[24] I. Szer, J. Szer, P. Cyniak, E. Błazik-Borowa, “Influence of temperature and surroundings humidity on scaffolding work comfort,” in Prevention of Accidents at Work, Ales Bernatik, Lucie Kocurkova, Kirsten Jørgensen, Ed. Taylor & Francis Group, 2017, pp. 19–23.