Background: The Ethiopian flower industry is growing fast with successful diversification of export products under greenhouse structures. Higher temperatures in the greenhouses pose a serious threat to the health of w...Background: The Ethiopian flower industry is growing fast with successful diversification of export products under greenhouse structures. Higher temperatures in the greenhouses pose a serious threat to the health of workers and add to the risk of occupational heat stress. Excessive heat in workplace settings also reduces work capacity and labour productivity. This study aims to investigate the level of heat exposure, and workers’ and managers’ perceptions and behavioural responses towards extreme heat exposure in a warming climate. Methods: We used the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) measured in representative greenhouses to capture the heat exposure during hotter and cooler seasons following ISO 7243 (generally risk of heat stress occurs when WBGT exceeds 26°C). A comparative cross-sectional study design with a stratified sampling method was used to assess occupational heat stress and workers’ perceptions of the impact of heat on their health and productivity in six different floriculture greenhouses in Ethiopia representing three different agro-ecologies and products. A questionnaire survey was conducted (30 managers/supervisors and 305 workers;76.1% female) to capture perceptions on heat exposures, symptoms of potential health impacts, productivity losses and coping mechanisms. Results: Heat exposure varied across different agroecologies, product types and greenhouse materials with a median WBGT Index of 25.5°C and a range from 18.1°C to 31.5°C. The impact of heat stress also varied across different employment sectors and geographical regions. Overall, workers in cut-flower greenhouses are exposed to higher than recommended WBGT Index (26°C) for 3 - 6 working hours daily. 65% of the managers reported that heat stress has a significant impact on the workers’ labour productivity, but do not have guidance about working in hot conditions. Workers reported more heat-related health issues and reduced productivity, especially in the mid-altitude greenhouses. About 50% of the workers reported that heat exposure decreased work productivity during hot hours. Sweating, exhaustion, heat-rashes, dehydration, crumps, nausea and headache were self-reported health issues. Labour productivity losses ranged from no loss to 19.5% in the mid- and low-altitudes. Conclusions and Recommendations: Excessive workplace heat in the greenhouses is both an occupational health hazard and detrimental to productivity in the floriculture industry. However, the level of understanding and actions on the ground regarding occupational heat stress are low. The code of conduct in place now does not consider the occupational heat stress issues. Multiple actions (engineering, management, training and policy-related recommendations) have to be implemented by Ethiopian Horticultural Producers and Exporters Association (EHPEA) and farm owners to mitigate heat stress and loss of productivity. Designing and implementing these heat prevention strategies and incorporating them into the code of conduct is in the interests of both employers and employees.展开更多
Due to different latitudes and variation of altitude in geographical areas in Iran,the climatic conditions of Iran are such that the variations of the heating degree-days(HDD)are in a broad range of 60 to 3000 for res...Due to different latitudes and variation of altitude in geographical areas in Iran,the climatic conditions of Iran are such that the variations of the heating degree-days(HDD)are in a broad range of 60 to 3000 for residential buildings in different climatic regions.In addition,in many cases,the building design and construction processes follow patterns which do not necessarily meet national energy requirements and standards.Based on these two reasons,it is essential to identify the current status of energy consumption indicators in residential buildings.That way,it gets more convenient to adopt new strategies to improve the current state of energy consumption of buildings.In this study,heating energy consumption indices of residential buildings is investigated.Using the combination of the results of statistical data analysis,questionnaires,filled in for 500 buildings,and a reference building simulation in different climates of Iran,the heating atlas of residential buildings was prepared.According to the results,the average heating energy index(HE1)of buildings in Iran can be less than 1 to more than 41.3(m^(3)(N.G)/(m^(2)-yr))depending on climatic conditions and building design and construction quality.However,in the coldest center of province,the average of this index is 26.3(m^(3)(N.G)/(m^(2)-yr))in the hottest one that is equal 2.2.The variations of the thermal base load(supply of hot water)varied from less than 13.12 to more than 378.84(m^(3)(N.G)/(person-yr)).In provincial capitals,the lowest thermal base load index(TBLI)of buildings is 24.78 and the highest is 226.49(m^(3)(N.G)/(person-yr)).In this paper,beside charts and tables,results of heating energy consumption indices are also presented in the form of graphical atlases,i.e.color contour plots,to deliver a better picture of the whole country.展开更多
以澳大利亚阿德莱德中心城区为研究区,基于高分辨率城市三维建筑物数据计算得到天空开阔度(sky view factor,SVF)与迎风面积指数(frontal area index,FAI),并将其与晴好天气下四季的城市热岛强度进行相关性分析。结果表明:晴好天气下,...以澳大利亚阿德莱德中心城区为研究区,基于高分辨率城市三维建筑物数据计算得到天空开阔度(sky view factor,SVF)与迎风面积指数(frontal area index,FAI),并将其与晴好天气下四季的城市热岛强度进行相关性分析。结果表明:晴好天气下,阿德莱德城市热岛强度(urban heat island intensity,UHII)在2010—2011年四季均呈现出夜间强、白天弱的变化特征。SVF与UHII在夜间呈显著线性负相关,白天呈线性正相关;而FAI与UHII在四季的夜间和早晨时段呈对数关系,白天呈线性负相关。SVF和FAI对不同季节、不同时刻的城市热岛影响不同,在不同空间尺度下的适用性也存在差异,SVF在不同空间尺度下适用性更强。展开更多
文摘Background: The Ethiopian flower industry is growing fast with successful diversification of export products under greenhouse structures. Higher temperatures in the greenhouses pose a serious threat to the health of workers and add to the risk of occupational heat stress. Excessive heat in workplace settings also reduces work capacity and labour productivity. This study aims to investigate the level of heat exposure, and workers’ and managers’ perceptions and behavioural responses towards extreme heat exposure in a warming climate. Methods: We used the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) measured in representative greenhouses to capture the heat exposure during hotter and cooler seasons following ISO 7243 (generally risk of heat stress occurs when WBGT exceeds 26°C). A comparative cross-sectional study design with a stratified sampling method was used to assess occupational heat stress and workers’ perceptions of the impact of heat on their health and productivity in six different floriculture greenhouses in Ethiopia representing three different agro-ecologies and products. A questionnaire survey was conducted (30 managers/supervisors and 305 workers;76.1% female) to capture perceptions on heat exposures, symptoms of potential health impacts, productivity losses and coping mechanisms. Results: Heat exposure varied across different agroecologies, product types and greenhouse materials with a median WBGT Index of 25.5°C and a range from 18.1°C to 31.5°C. The impact of heat stress also varied across different employment sectors and geographical regions. Overall, workers in cut-flower greenhouses are exposed to higher than recommended WBGT Index (26°C) for 3 - 6 working hours daily. 65% of the managers reported that heat stress has a significant impact on the workers’ labour productivity, but do not have guidance about working in hot conditions. Workers reported more heat-related health issues and reduced productivity, especially in the mid-altitude greenhouses. About 50% of the workers reported that heat exposure decreased work productivity during hot hours. Sweating, exhaustion, heat-rashes, dehydration, crumps, nausea and headache were self-reported health issues. Labour productivity losses ranged from no loss to 19.5% in the mid- and low-altitudes. Conclusions and Recommendations: Excessive workplace heat in the greenhouses is both an occupational health hazard and detrimental to productivity in the floriculture industry. However, the level of understanding and actions on the ground regarding occupational heat stress are low. The code of conduct in place now does not consider the occupational heat stress issues. Multiple actions (engineering, management, training and policy-related recommendations) have to be implemented by Ethiopian Horticultural Producers and Exporters Association (EHPEA) and farm owners to mitigate heat stress and loss of productivity. Designing and implementing these heat prevention strategies and incorporating them into the code of conduct is in the interests of both employers and employees.
文摘Due to different latitudes and variation of altitude in geographical areas in Iran,the climatic conditions of Iran are such that the variations of the heating degree-days(HDD)are in a broad range of 60 to 3000 for residential buildings in different climatic regions.In addition,in many cases,the building design and construction processes follow patterns which do not necessarily meet national energy requirements and standards.Based on these two reasons,it is essential to identify the current status of energy consumption indicators in residential buildings.That way,it gets more convenient to adopt new strategies to improve the current state of energy consumption of buildings.In this study,heating energy consumption indices of residential buildings is investigated.Using the combination of the results of statistical data analysis,questionnaires,filled in for 500 buildings,and a reference building simulation in different climates of Iran,the heating atlas of residential buildings was prepared.According to the results,the average heating energy index(HE1)of buildings in Iran can be less than 1 to more than 41.3(m^(3)(N.G)/(m^(2)-yr))depending on climatic conditions and building design and construction quality.However,in the coldest center of province,the average of this index is 26.3(m^(3)(N.G)/(m^(2)-yr))in the hottest one that is equal 2.2.The variations of the thermal base load(supply of hot water)varied from less than 13.12 to more than 378.84(m^(3)(N.G)/(person-yr)).In provincial capitals,the lowest thermal base load index(TBLI)of buildings is 24.78 and the highest is 226.49(m^(3)(N.G)/(person-yr)).In this paper,beside charts and tables,results of heating energy consumption indices are also presented in the form of graphical atlases,i.e.color contour plots,to deliver a better picture of the whole country.
文摘以澳大利亚阿德莱德中心城区为研究区,基于高分辨率城市三维建筑物数据计算得到天空开阔度(sky view factor,SVF)与迎风面积指数(frontal area index,FAI),并将其与晴好天气下四季的城市热岛强度进行相关性分析。结果表明:晴好天气下,阿德莱德城市热岛强度(urban heat island intensity,UHII)在2010—2011年四季均呈现出夜间强、白天弱的变化特征。SVF与UHII在夜间呈显著线性负相关,白天呈线性正相关;而FAI与UHII在四季的夜间和早晨时段呈对数关系,白天呈线性负相关。SVF和FAI对不同季节、不同时刻的城市热岛影响不同,在不同空间尺度下的适用性也存在差异,SVF在不同空间尺度下适用性更强。
