A study of heat stress in extremely hot environments, and the infrared reflectance of some potential shielding materials.

In the course of evaluating industrial heat exposures, three very hot environments having heat stress indices over 300 have been analysed by the techniques of Haines and Hatch (1952) and Belding and Hatch (1955). In addition, pulse and oral temperature measurements were made on three subjects exposed to these environments. These studies indicate that the methods of Haines and Hatch and Belding and Hatch tend to err on the side of safety when applied to very hot areas. Safe exposure times calculated by their techniques are approximately one-third those determined by either physiological measurement or by safe tolerance curves recommended by the American Society of Heating and Ventilation Engineers (ASHVE). The intelligent use of shielding as a method of protecting workers from radiant heat requires a knowledge of the infra-red reflectance curves of common industrial materials. Nineteen such curves are included.