Estudio exploratorio de la exposición a estrés térmico en trabajadores que desempeñan actividades de mantenimiento en interiores de tanques de almacenamiento de crudo

Abstract

Maintenance activities in storage tanks crude demand a high added energy expenditure high temperature zone originate thermal overload especially within these confined spaces, the environmental conditions inside the tank are extreme by toxic gases, noise, temperature and humidity. The staff exposed to these parameters suffer cutaneous and systemic including alterations the most dangerous heat stroke due to excessive heat buildup due to the high workload especially in internal tank, are works of high metabolic consumption, being essential calculating the rate of sweating required, based on the evaporation of sweat required and humidity required to establish the maximum exposure time in this aggressive thermal environment skin. From conducted research has identified, evaluated and determined procedures hazard prevention before and during maintenance activities, the overall risk matrix has been established some sub-critical processes such as washing and cleaning, blasting and painting the inner walls of the tank. Analysis of metabolic consumption is determined that there is a high energy expenditure in two specific activities blasting with 270 W / m² and paint with 193 W / m², from these results and by obtaining environmental variables dry temperature, temperature humidity, mean radiant temperature, humidity and air velocity obtained with the Kestrel 4400 team for five days and using the method Index perspiration Required maximum exposure time of a worker in activity inside the tank for this was determined activities in extreme conditions of 17 minutes to 36 minutes blasting and painting, just as for maintenance activities external tank was set a time of 16 and 24 minutes respectively. With these results we can establish that a acclimatized and favorable physical conditions person shall not exceed the established times for these activities, with the risk of significant health damage due to thermal stress caused by excessive evaporation required sweat and moisture of skin, especially if there is no proper supervision throughout the process tank maintenance performed by a health professional or technician in industrial safety.