Assessment of physical, environmental, and cardiac strain in 43 operators (wearing protective equipment) conducting clean-up of heavy oil products

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to organise an assessment of the physical strains and environmental
exposure to hydrocarbon derivatives in persons involved in shoreline clean-up of heavy oil products, in
order to investigate the dangers of oil spill clean-up.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-three healthy volunteers wearing protective equipment cleaning up an
artificial shoreline underwent cardiac strain measurements, as well as
a study of thermal stress (approximate WBGT index, water loss, measurement of internal body temperature
before and after physical activity). A subjective assessment of perceived exertion was correlated to articular
strain indicators recorded for the weight of loads lifted, movement frequency, and the range of movement.
Environmental exposure was determined by using portable hydrocarbon detectors.

RESULTS: For adult subjects in good physical condition, in neutral temperatures, oil spill clean-up is considered
non-arduous. However, in sedentary, stressed subjects exposed to difficult climatic conditions, cleanup
can be considered hard to extremely hard. In terms of environmental exposure, slight traces of toluene
appeared once out of a total of 18 analysed samples.

CONCLUSIONS: The sample studied was subject to physical articular strains and presented variable cardiac
strain; environmental exposure was, on the other hand, slight when involving cleaning up heavy petroleum
products. The subjects liable to carry out this activity are more tolerant to the efforts required when they
are healthy, fit, young adults, in the non-arduous thermal conditions recorded in this study.