Professional Development for Health & Safety Experts

CIH Question 05/25/2017 Thermal Stress

An employee needs to lose 724 BTU/hr through evaporation in order to maintain a body
temperature of 98.6 degrees F. The outdoor air temperature is 89 degrees F and the
water vapor pressure is 33.3 mm Hg with a wind speed of 14 mph.

What is the heat stress index?

A. 0.49
B. 12.3
C. 14.6
D. 48.5

(Solution on next page)

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 Professional Development for Health & Safety Experts

Solution:

Heat Stress Index (HSI) = x 100

Ereq = Evaporation required to maintain temperature

Emax = Maximum rate of evaporative cooling

Emax = (2.4)(V0.6)(42-PWa)

Emax = maximum evaporative heat loss in BTU/hr

V= air speed in feet per minute (fpm)
PWa = vapor pressure of water at air temperature (mmHg)

Convert 14 miles per hour to feet per minute.

14 x x = 1,232 ft/min

Emax = (2.4)(1232)0.6(42-33.3)
Emax = 1493.12 BTU/hr

/
HSI = x 100 = 48.5
, /

The correct solution is D.

1.866.264.5852 | support@bowenehs.com
www.BowenEHS.com
Copyright 2017 Bowen EHS A Division of Bowen Learning Network, Inc.