Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026
Author Spotlight: Polysome Profiling Protocol for Studying Translational Regulation in Arabidopsis Under Heat Stress
Published on: October 11, 2024
Evaluation of Heat Stress in Construction Site of Metro Rail in Chennai
Ajit C Kulkarni1, Krishnan Srinivasan2
1Consultant in Hyperbaric and Occupational Medicine, Contract Medical Advisor for the Project, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India.
Introduction:
Tunnel boring machine (TBM) is used for constructing a tunnel. Worn out cutting tools have to be changed under difficult working conditions. Temperature is high and the work is strenuous. Work is often carried out under increased atmospheric pressure to ward off water ingress. Workers are at a very high risk.
Aim:
To evaluate heat stress during hyperbaric intervention on TBM during Chennai Metro Rail construction.
Methodology:
One hundred and eighty-eight miners after a thorough medical examination worked under increased atmospheric pressure for more than 45,000 man hours. Mitigating actions to protect workers by reducing temperature and increasing ventilation. Medical monitoring was done to identify and treat potential victims.
Results:
52° C was the highest temperature recorded. Most times work was carried out at a temperature range of 34-45° C.
Conclusions:
Motivations of monetary gains, reduced working hours, and food supplements played a major role in work execution without any untoward incidence.
Related Concept Videos
02:45Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
01:16Specific Heat
For example, increasing the temperature of one gram of water by 1°C requires one calorie of heat energy and can be written as 1 cal/g-°C, or...
02:46Quantifying Heat
01:12Heat Flow and Specific Heat
02:44Heating and Cooling Curves
For instance, the addition of heat raises the temperature of a solid; the amount of heat absorbed depends on the heat capacity of the solid (q = mcsolidΔT). According to thermochemistry, the relation between the amount of heat absorbed or released by a substance, q, and its...
01:10Heat Engines
Whenever we consider heat engines (and associated devices such as refrigerators and heat pumps), we do not use the standard sign convention for heat and work. For convenience, we assume that the symbols Qh, Qc, and W represent only the amounts of heat transferred...