Calculating workplace WBGT from meteorological data: a tool for climate change assessment

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Science
• Climate Change Research

Background:

• The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is a key index for workplace heat stress risk assessment, used in international standards.
• Assessing population-level occupational heat exposure trends requires accessible data sources like weather station records or climate models.
• Standard WBGT measurement requires specialized equipment not typically found at weather stations, necessitating alternative calculation methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare published methods for calculating WBGT from standard meteorological data.
• To identify reliable methods for estimating WBGT for both outdoor and indoor environments.
• To provide recommendations for assessing climate change impacts on occupational heat stress at a population level.

Main Methods:

• Compared various published methods for calculating WBGT using standard climate data (temperature, dew point, wind speed, solar radiation).
• Developed specific criteria for method recommendation.
• Evaluated methods using original measurements.

Main Results:

• Identified Liljegren et al. (2008) method as suitable for outdoor WBGT calculation from standard climate data.
• Identified Bernard et al. (1999) method as suitable for indoor WBGT calculation from standard climate data.
• The recommended methods enable WBGT estimation using widely available weather station data.

Conclusions:

• The Liljegren et al. (2008) and Bernard et al. (1999) methods are recommended for calculating outdoor and indoor WBGT, respectively.
• These methods facilitate population-level assessment of occupational heat stress risks, particularly in the context of climate change.
• Utilizing standard climate data for WBGT calculation enhances the ability to monitor and manage heat stress in workplaces globally.