HEAT STRESS PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR WORKERS IN DEMILITARIZATION PROTECTIVE ENSEMBLE AT PUEBLO CHEMICAL AGENT-DESTRUCTION PILOT PLANT TRAINING FACILITY

The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) is being constructed to dispose of the entire stockpile of sulfur mustard contained in munitions stored at Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colorado. The PCAPP Training Facility provides courses on protective measures necessary for making entries into areas with hazardous concentrations of chemical warfare agents in air. Students are trained to work in Demilitarization Protective Ensemble (DPE), an encapsulating, impermeable, and positive pressure suit. The course includes wearing the suit and performing tasks to simulate work in PCAPP toxic areas. Wearing DPE will increase the heat stress load for workers making entries. The PCAPP heatstress management program includes plans, training, and physiological monitoring such as heartrate. The heat-stress management program as well, as physiological data from students, was analyzed for effectiveness in managing heat strain. Results showed a significant correlation between heart-rate and percent loss in body weight, a recognized sign of heat strain. Other parameters under administrative control such as blood pressure, respiratory rate, and pre-entry body temperature did not show significant corresponding relationships with heart-rate monitoring data. Recommendations were also provided for heatstress management from recognized organizations. Keyword