A heatstroke prediction and prevention system for outdoor construction workers

Background Recently, the number of heatstroke cases is increasing among construction workers. To prevent heatstroke at construction sites, it is necessary to accurately predict both the thermal environment of construction sites and the physiological condition of workers, which is presently difficult to achieve. Methods We have therefore developed the Construction Workers’ Heatstroke Prevention (CWHP) system specifically for outdoor construction workers. The CWHP system consists of the Thermal Environment Prediction (TEP) system, which predicts changes in the thermal environment based on forecast values obtained from the Japan Meteorological Agency and results of computational fluid dynamics and solar insolation simulations, and the Core Body Temperature Prediction (CBTP) system, which predicts changes in worker core body temperature based on the TEP system results. The CWHP’s heatstroke risk notification system indicates the risk of worker heatstroke considering the work site and schedule, so that construction managers can appropriately schedule work or install appropriate facilities such as tents, electric fans, and cold water tanks before work starts. The system is flexible enough to accommodate situations differing from meteorological agency forecasts. Results In summer 2011 the CWHP system was applied at Osaka University campus under hypothetical situations using the Virtual Reality Avatar Thermal Environment (VRATE) system, previously developed by the authors. Conclusions The system accurately predicted the time history of construction worker core body temperatures and informed users of times of heatstroke risk, allowing work sites and worker schedules to be modified such that new plans showed no risk for that day.