Forest operations are generally strenuous, and there is a significant risk of heat stroke. According to data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, the number of casualties due to heat stroke while working in the forest was approximately seven per year from 2017 to 2022. This figure is not negligible. However, there is a paucity of research on the heat environment and the risk of heat stroke during forest operations. In this study, we measured summer WBGT in artificial forests in central Japan under different site conditions. Our goal was to clarify the characteristics of WBGT depending on site conditions and to investigate acceptable forest operations based on RMR. Furthermore, the body weight loss, fluid intake, and sweat loss status of four forestry workers at forest work sites were determined using sweat loss patches and questionnaire surveys. The maximum WBGT reading was recorded between 11:00 and 14:00. The larger the canopy openness, the higher the WBGT during the peak period. It is imperative to incorporate active breaks during such periods in weeding and logging operations, ensuring adequate fluid intake. It was also deemed necessary to reconsider the working hours. The sweat loss increased significantly from the end of July to the middle of August. The study revealed that some workers maintained enough fluid intake to combat sweat loss, while others did not. It is possible that the placement of water bottles and other containers far from the work site might have hindered fluid intake.
저자
Akemi Itaya [ Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, Tsu, Japan ]
Corresponding Author
Hinata Sasahara [ Faculty of Bioresources, Mie University, Tsu, Japan ]
Goki Yamamoto [ Faculty of Bioresources, Mie University, Tsu, Japan ]
Izumi Suenaga [ Faculty of Bioresources, Mie University, Tsu, Japan ]
Chisa Nakata [ Department of Forest Engineering, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tukuba, Japan ]
