Estimation of The Wet-bulb Globe Temperature in Saudi Arabia Resources Sector - Research Paper Example

Even though there are more specific methods that can be used to determine the heat strain on an individual based on their own physiological measurements, the WBGT index is an internationally used standard in the specification of the risks to the heat stress at the workplace. Special equipment not commonly found in weather stations such as the wet bulb globe temperature, LASCAR EL-USB-2-LCD and relative humidity and temperature loggers will be used as the core instruments in the measurement of the heat stress (Kjellstrom et al.,2013). Therefore, the study will seek to recommend a specific criterion that can be used in developing, measuring and evaluating the different methods of attaining the required heat index.

To achieve this, a comparison shall be made between the published methods that are used in calculating indoor and outdoor WBGT to those of the standard climatic data. This would then form the basis for recommendations to workers on the preventive measures that can be taken to avoid ill health effects associated with heat exposures (Nag et al., 2013). Considering the climatic conditions in Saudi Arabia, workers have been mostly concerned with the regulation and maintenance of the body temperature at the workplace at around an average of 380C (Chaturvedi et al., 2007). The ability to make informed health decisions so as to avoid the health-related factors of the heat stress on the body has been the main concern for most policymakers and workers (Lundgren et al., 2012). Workers in the Arab countries are not new to the variations in climatic conditions and often, have resorted to dynamic strategies for survival in relation to the changes in temperature and rainfall (Chaturvedi et al., 2007).According to Liljegren et al., (2008), there are several perspectives upon which the effects of exposure to heat by an individual can be measured.