The body continuously produces heat through its metabolic
processes. Because the body processes are designed to
operate only within a very narrow range of temperature, the
body must dissipate this heat as rapidly as it is produced if it
is to function efficiently. A sensitive and rapidly acting set of
temperature-sensing devices in the body must also control
the rates of its temperature-regulating processes. (This
mechanism is described in Chapter 3, The Skin and Occupational
Dermatoses.)
Heat stress is a common problem, as are the problems
presented by a very cold environment. Evaluation of heat
stress in a work environment is not simple. Considerably
more is involved than simply taking a number of airtemperature
measurements and making decisions on the
basis of this information.
One question that must be asked is whether the temperature
is merely causing discomfort or whether continued
exposure will cause the body temperature to fall below or rise
above safe limits. It is difficult for a person with only a clipboard
full of data to interpret how another person actually
feels or is adversely affected.