A special thermal stress problem in ceramic industry

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Abstract
While surveying the hygienic conditions in small to medium ceramic industries, it was noted that an acute thermal stress problem existed in kiln unloading operations being performed manually. A more detailed investigation of this problem in four typical ceramic factories confirmed that the thermal conditions imposed severe stress on the workers with WBGT values ranging between 43 and 54‡ C inside the kiln. However, the physiological strain experienced by even the workers who remain inside the kiln for unloading the saggers for 10 min or more at a time before coming out for a spell of rest was not excessive, except in a few cases. This suggests that the workers had fortuitously chosen, perhaps by experience, a work-rest schedule which did not prove too strenuous. It is considered that it would be desirable to regulate this operation in each factory on a systematic manner after necessary studies to rationalize the work-rest procedure.