Skin Temperature Distribution on Simulation Thermal Effects under Construction Climate

Ahmad Rasdan Ismail; Norfadzilah Jusoh; Nor Kamilah Makhtar; Raemy Md Zein; Nurul Husna  Che Hassan; Nor Kamaliana Khamis

Authors

Ahmad Rasdan Ismail Centre for Management of Environment, Occupational Safety and Health (CMeOSH), Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, 16300 Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia
Norfadzilah Jusoh Centre for Management of Environment, Occupational Safety and Health (CMeOSH), Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, 16300 Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia
Nor Kamilah Makhtar Department of Educational Planning and Research, Institute of Teacher Education, Campus Kota Bharu, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Raemy Md Zein National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Nurul Husna Che Hassan Faculty of Creative Technology & Heritage, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, 16300 Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia
Nor Kamaliana Khamis Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Unversiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Keywords:

Skin temperature, construction workers, simulation, thermal, climate

Abstract

Global warming is bringing more frequent and severe heat waves. Construction workers are particularly vulnerable to heat risk due to the job culture in the outdoor environment. Unrestrained heat has extreme effects on skin temperature, which will lead to low performance and also results to injuries and fatalities. This study aims to investigate the distribution of skin surface temperature under seven different thermal conditions involving variations in temperature and relative humidity. The computational simulation models based on real construction climate were developed. Simulation results showed the highest heat index (a combination of temperature/relative humidity) is at 34 oC/92% and 38 oC/83% and fall under extreme danger category. At this level, the models were experienced high heat/sunstroke continuous exposure. This study also indicated that skin temperature has significantly influenced by the hot and humid environment. It is hoped that this study is able to provide guidance and reference to the industry, especially the construction sector by providing appropriate control measures to overcome the issue of heat risk among workers.