Climatized packing house with evaporative coolers - part 1: Occupational heat exposure.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Climatized packing house with evaporative coolers - part 1: Occupational heat exposure.
Alternate Title: Packing house climatizado com resfriadores evaporativos - parte 1: Exposição ocupacional ao calor.
Authors: Miranda, Isadora B.1 isadorabenevidesmiranda@gmail.com, Santos, Italo E. dos A.2, Amorim, Magno do N.3, Turco, Silvia H. N.2, de S. S. Lins, Ana C.4
Source: Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental - Agriambi. 2025, Vol. 29 Issue 3, p1-8. 8p.
Subjects: Table grapes, Fruit processing, Mineral waters, Minerals in water, High temperatures
Abstract (English): Agribusiness workers are regularly exposed to high temperatures, even in covered environments such as packing houses. This study aimed to assess the effect of evaporative coolers on reducing occupational heat exposure for workers and consequently improving the thermal comfort of the selection and packaging areas in a table grape packing house. The evaluation was conducted as per the criteria of the Brazilian legislation, based on the Regulatory Norms (NR's) 15 and 17 of the Department of Labor. The study was conducted during two climatic production periods, dry and rainy, with the evaporative coolers on and off. With the coolers on, the workers' occupational exposure to heat was reduced without exceeding the wet bulb globe temperature index tolerance limit for the activities carried out according to the NR 15. However, it did not provide adequate thermal comfort indices according to NR 17. Under semiarid conditions, coolers rendered the environment thermally comfortable for local workers. To reduce the risks to workers' health, it is suggested that they take breaks in case of discomfort from the heat and provide workers with water and mineral salts to replenish sweat loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Portuguese): Os trabalhadores do agronegócio são expostos a condições de trabalho com altas temperaturas regularmente, mesmo em ambientes cobertos, como os packing houses. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do uso de resfriadores evaporativos na redução da exposição ocupacional de trabalhadores ao calor e na melhoria do conforto térmico da área de seleção e embalagem de um packing house de uvas de mesa. A avaliação ocorreu de acordo com os critérios da legislação brasileira, aplicando-se as Normas Regulamentadoras (NR's) 15 e 17, do Ministério do Trabalho. O estudo ocorreu durante dois períodos climáticos de produção: seco e chuvoso, com os resfriadores evaporativos ligados e desligados. Com os resfriadores evaporativos ligados, houve redução da exposição ocupacional dos trabalhadores ao calor, sem ultrapassar o limite de tolerância da temperatura de bulbo úmido para as atividades desenvolvidas, de acordo com a NR 15. Contudo, não apresentou índices adequados de conforto térmico, segundo a NR 17. Para as condições de semiárido, os resfriadores tornaram o ambiente termicamente confortável para os trabalhadores locais. Para reduzir os riscos à saúde do trabalhador, sugere-se adotar pausas quando houver desconforto por calor e fornecer água e sais minerais aos trabalhadores para reposição das perdas por suor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:Agribusiness workers are regularly exposed to high temperatures, even in covered environments such as packing houses. This study aimed to assess the effect of evaporative coolers on reducing occupational heat exposure for workers and consequently improving the thermal comfort of the selection and packaging areas in a table grape packing house. The evaluation was conducted as per the criteria of the Brazilian legislation, based on the Regulatory Norms (NR's) 15 and 17 of the Department of Labor. The study was conducted during two climatic production periods, dry and rainy, with the evaporative coolers on and off. With the coolers on, the workers' occupational exposure to heat was reduced without exceeding the wet bulb globe temperature index tolerance limit for the activities carried out according to the NR 15. However, it did not provide adequate thermal comfort indices according to NR 17. Under semiarid conditions, coolers rendered the environment thermally comfortable for local workers. To reduce the risks to workers' health, it is suggested that they take breaks in case of discomfort from the heat and provide workers with water and mineral salts to replenish sweat loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:18071929
DOI:10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v29n3e280973