Analysis of Work Environment Regulations on Heat

Abstract

          This research was aimed to analyze the ministerial regulations and the notifications of the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare for work environments which are heat, illumination, and noise. There were 8 analyzed issues; (1) the definition of an average for two hours of the heat measurement (2) the definition of light, moderate, and heavy work (3) specify the limit level of hot environment.

          The results of the study revealed that (1) an average of heat measurement for two hours, if the first hour of heat measurement was higher than the limit and the second hour of measurement was lower than the limit, then the average of heat measurement from two hours may lower than the limit. This study suggested that the average should be from one hour instead of two hours. In case the heat is higher than the limit, the employee shall provide heat protection suit(s) but the regulation has not specified the type of heat protection suit. The regulation should review the definition of heat protection suit to be more specific. (2) The works load definition; light, moderate, and heavy was not accurate, this caused an error in work load assessment. The regulation should use the oxygen consumption method or heart beat method in relation with work load. (3) The limit of heat standards was higher than the international standards and was not found the Clothing Adjustment Factors (CAF). The regulation should be reviewed for the heat standard limit and the CAF.