Condiciones de trabajo en ambientes térmicos fríos en la empresa “Proalimec Cia. Ltda.”

Abstract

People who work in refrigeration rooms are at risk of contracting thermal stress due to cold, causing negative health effects such as trench foot, Raynaud's phenomenon, hypothermia, frostbite, and local damage to the body. Under this problematic context, the research objective was to evaluate thermal stress due to cold in production personnel who work in cold rooms of the company “PROALIMEC CIA. LTDA.” The evaluation of thermal stress due to cold was based on the methodology of the UNE - EN ISO 11079 standard. An anemometer (AR856) and a thermal stress meter (SPERT SCIENTIFIC) were used to determine thermohydrometric variables as stipulated in the UNE - EN ISO 7726 standard; in addition, the estimation of the metabolic consumption of the workers was determined using the UNE - EN ISO 8996 standard; finally, the calculation of the IREQ index was established through the required insulation of clothing and the maximum time of exposure to cold in an 8-hour workday. The study used a quantitative approach through descriptive research. It was determined that the average working ambient temperature in the refrigeration rooms 1-2 and 3 are -1,1 °C and -1,8 °C, the average globe temperature is -2,9 °C and -3,9 °C, the average relative humidity is 42,2% and 48,4%, the wind speed is 0 m/s, and the average metabolic rate of the operating personnel is 165,39 W/m2. It is concluded that based on the results obtained from the IREQ index, workers have no risk of contracting cold stress and have thermally sufficient clothing to avoid frostbite.