Exposição ocupacional em ambientes frios: avaliação e aplicação da metodologia do IREQ

Abstract

The work presents an analysis about the thermoambiental evaluation method based on the Required Clothing Insulation (IREQ), proposed by the European standard EN ISO 11079:2007. Its aims to evaluate its main characteristics, calculation method and application as a technique to quantify the occupational exposure to cold. The research includes an analysis of the current Brazilian legislation used in the standardization of low temperatures exposure conditions, making a comparison between the existing regulations and the internationally adopted method for evaluating cold environments. The examined environment, presented evaluation along the lines of Brazilian standards, indicating the non-existence of unhealthy activity, which proved to be untrue, before the use of the IREQ method. It was verified the feasibility of the method, which presents more restrictive conditions for worker exposure. It was noted also, the difference between the evaluation techniques, emphasizing the gap of the criteria used by the Brazilian normative.