Thermal risks

Introduction

Humans need to maintain and regulate their internal core temperature as near to 37ºC as possible. Any significant deviations away from the ‘normal’ temperature range can lead to reduced performance, illness and ultimately death.This article includes a description of the physical and physiological factors which affect the thermal balance of the human body. This will cover heat loss/gain mechanisms of convection, conduction, radiation and evaporation including a description of the physiological mechanisms in response to the heat and cold and the effects of physical activity. 

Heat Balance Equation

The core temperature of the body is…