[Evaluation of active equipment protecting distal parts of hands and feet against cold].

Experimental studies covered thermoregulatory reactions of feet and hands, when using equipment protecting distal parts of hands and feet and using "active" heating (electric heating and thermochemical heater). Findings are that "active" heaters with output range 4-8 watt, as electrically heated inserts in gauntlets and welts, at air temperatures of -5 to -10 degrees C maintained average skin temperature of hand at 17-20 degrees C; using "active" heaters with output of 12 watt increased heat insulation of gauntlets and shoes up to 0.609-0.609 degrees C x m2/watt--that enables to conduct averagely hard work at cold climate up to 2 hours in all climate regions--IA (special), IB (climate zone IV), II (climate zone III) and III (climate zone II). Using 2 thermochemical heaters in gauntlets prevented local cooling, and heat insulation of the gauntlets therefore increased 1.6 times--that enables to widen temperature range of safe usage of equipment protecting hands against cold up to climate region II (climate zone III) during continuous physical work of average hardiness in cold climate up to 2 hours.

[Methodic approaches to evaluation of microclimate at workplace, with application of various types of protective clothing against occupational hazards].

Studies of heat state of human involved into physical work in heating environment and having various protective clothing on demonstrated value of the protective clothing in modifying thermal load on the body and possible decrease of this load through air temperature and humidity correction, shorter stay at workplace. The authors presented hygienic requirements to air temperatures range in accordance with allowable body heating degree, suggested mathematic model to forecast integral parameter of human functional state in accordance with type of protective clothing applied. The article also covers necessity of upper air temperature limit during hot season, for applying protective clothing made of materials with low air permeability and hydraulic conductivity.

[Occupational microclimate. Results and prospects of research].

The article covers results of studies conducted over last 15 years and aimed to elaboration of requirements to integral parameters of microclimate at workplace, its evaluation and regulation, prophylactic measures against body overcooling and overheating. The authors present methods to evaluate combined effects of physical factors (noise, vibration, microclimate) and to assess microclimate with consideration of factors determining body thermal load (energy expenditure, duration of stay at workplace, heat insulation of clothes and thermo-physical parameters of its materials). Mathematic models of forecasting cold and heat stress are presented, as well as requirements to heat insulation for individual protective means against cold and methods to calculate it. Regimens of work in heating and cooling conditions are specified. The authors set directions for further studies to define regulation requirements to microclimate on basis of studied patterns of body heat state formation, its evaluation criteria, epidemiologic studies results, specified prophylactic measures against overheating and overcooling with consideration of adaptation, sex, thermo-physical characteristics of individual protective means (special clothes, footwear, gauntlets, headwear).

[Forecasting heat and functional state of human exposed to cooling in water medium].

Based on mathematic and statistic analysis of results obtained in studies of human heat exchange with cooling water medium, the authors represented canonical correlational patterns to determine integral parameter of cooling conditions (IPCC) referred to naked human and with various clothes on, both with and without additional heat releasing sources. Mathematic and statistic analysis helped to present correlational patterns for predicting levels of changes in human functional state according to IPCC comprising complex of factors that determine heat exchange in water medium, including safe time for stay in it.

[Evaluating influence of individual protective means on heat state of individuals working in heating microclimate].

The authors evaluate working clothes protecting against electromagnetic waves and chemical pollution to exemplify that the clothes use in heating surroundings deteriorates human heat state due to disordered heat-mass exchange with environment and higher physical exertion caused by the clothes weight. The article demonstrates necessity to correct requirements to microclimate parameters, if using working clothes deteriorating heat-mass exchange with environment in heating microclimate. For adequate evaluation of work conditions, the materials include temperature modification values in accordance with some working clothes types.

[Comparative evaluation of different methods for normalizing heat state of persons exposed to cold water]. / Sravnitel'naia otsenka razlichnykh sposobov normalizatsii teplovogo sostoianiia cheloveka posle okhlazheniia ego v vodnoi srede.

Decrease of deep body temperature in humans due to exposure to cold water continues after the exposure ends and carries major danger for human health and life. The article covers data characterizing human heat state parameters after rejection of cold (10 +/- 1 degree C) water environment. This rejection was proved to take place in more severely decreased "core" and "capsule" temperature vs that in air environment. Studies of heat state in 38 volunteers practicing winter swimming demonstrated comparative evaluation of various heating methods among which the most effective are immersion into warm (38 degrees C) water with simultaneous hydromassage and being in sauna at air temperature of 65 +/- 5 degrees C.

[Integral evaluation of optimal microclimate and human thermoregulation]. / Intergral'naia otsenka optimal'nogo mikroklimata i teplovogo sostoianiia cheloveka.

The article presents integral parameters of heat comfort determined numerically through parameters of microclimate and human heat state. The authors defined human heat state classes that necessitate differentiated evaluation of heat comfort depending on energy expenditure. The materials also cover regression equations to calculate criterial parameters for optimal heat state.

[Characteristics of occupational factors and the workers' health state in strip mining of tungsten and molybdenum ores]. / Kharakteristika faktorov proizvodstbennoi sredy i sostsoianie zdorov'ia rabochikh pri otkrytoi dobyche vol'framomolibdenovykh rud.

Ores extraction in Tyrnaouz tungsten-molybdenum pool is conducted in specific climate and geologic conditions that considerably influence aimbient dust levels in open pit and mining workplaces, levels of exhaust, radioactive and explosive gases and lower those levels to the MACs or below. With regular mining equipment used, noise and vibration levels are the same as at other open pits. The stated occupational hazards could induce vibration disease and deafness in the workers.

[Prognosis of the thermal status of man in view of the impact of a variety of factors]. / Prognozirovanie teplovogo sostoianiia cheloveka pri vozdeistvii kompleksa faktorov.

Mathematic and statistic analysis helped to determine classes of human functional state characterized by variable degree of thermoregulatory and cardiovascular strain. The authors represented technology forecasting a class of human functional state under influence of combined factors that change heat status and overcharge cardiovascular system and technology forecasting reliable time tolerance interval for the complex of factors influencing human.

[Substantiation of the regulation of environmental heat load for workers exposed to heating microclimate (for example, steel smelting)]. / K obosnovaniiu reglamentatsii termicheskoi nagruzki sredy na rabotaiushchikh v nagrevaiushchem mikroklimate (na primere staleplavil'nogo proizvodstva).

The article analyzes the studies concerning long-term influence of heating stress on health state of subjects working in heating microclimate. Using epidemiologic cohort studies, the authors evaluated level and causes of mortality among workers of steel-making plant. Environmental heating was proved to increase cardiovascular mortality risk.

[Features of work environment in open mining of gold-containing sand in the Far North]. / Osobennosti uslovii truda pri otkrytoi dobyche zolotosoderzhashchikh peskov na Krainem Severe.

Up-to-date work conditions of open extraction of gold in Far North are characterized by some occupational hazards, among which noise and vibration are leaders. In severe climate conditions heat state of the workers was considered exceeding the allowable standards. The authors suggest recommendations to normalize working environment of the enterprises under study.

[Physiologic and hygienic substantiation of requirements of individual protective means against cold of workers exposed to local and general vibration]. / Fiziologo-gigienicheskoe obosnovanie trebovanii k individual'nym sredstvam zashchity ot kholoda rabochikh, podvergaiushchikhsia vozdeistviiu lokal'noi i obshchei vibratsii.

The article deals with results of studies evaluating heat and functional state of miners in Murmansk region. The authors suggest prophylaxis against unfavorable effects of cold and vibration on the miners. The measures are to lower thermoregulatory overstrain by use of individual protective means providing optimal heat state during the work activities.