An investigation of the thermal and environmental conditions in the holds of ships carrying cement : an occupational health survey

Abstract

Following a fatal case of heat stroke, the Occupational Health Unit undertook the investigation of the thermal and environmental conditions in the holds of ships arriving in Malta to unload hot cement. Fifteen ships were surveyed over a period of three months. Following this survey, a report concluded that : (1) the summer manning scale should be extended into October (2) the findings in November were equivocal and thus no definite submission in respect of this month could be made other than that the sack temperature would have proved a realistic criterion of the thermal conditions in the holds; (3) there was no justification on occupational health grounds to adopt the shift system in December, provided always that the sack temperature did not exceed 110° F. Subsequent to this report, the Port Labour (Determinations) Order, 1966 was amended accordingly