Real-Time assessment study of individual thermal stress in high-temperature tunnel based on integrated weight-TOPSIS model

Abstract

In high-temperature semi-enclosed tunnel work environments, labor can have adverse effects on worker health. Therefore, conducting real-time and effective assessment and early warning of individual heat stress in high-temperature environments is crucial for occupational health protection. Real-time tests of environmental and physiological parameters were carried out during the construction processes of both high-temperature and normal-temperature tunnels. Based on on-site measurement data, an integrated weight-TOPSIS model was established to assess individual heat stress in high-temperature tunnel environments. The model selected five environmental parameters (air temperature, black globe temperature, natural wet bulb temperature, relative humidity, wind speed) and two physiological parameters (skin temperature and heart rate) as evaluation indicators. An index named the TSI_cw was proposed to assess heat stress in real-time. Results indicated that heat stress is significantly influenced by air temperature, relative humidity, and dry bulb temperature. The evaluation results of TSI_cw showed good consistency with indicators like WBGT, validating its effectiveness in analyzing environmental and physiological parameter data during tunnel construction. TSI_cw was categorized into thermal stress risk levels: low risk range of 0.83–1, moderate risk range of 0.58–0.83, and high risk range of 0–0.58. Utilizing TSI_cw allows for real-time assessment of individual heat stress levels in high-temperature tunnel environments, providing valuable reference for protecting the health of workers in such conditions.