Assessment of heat stress and its health impacts on health of workers from different occupational sectors

Abstract

Global climatic change is expected to make hot regions further hotter as per predictions Workers who are working in various industries where heat production is more are at increased risk of heat related illnesses newline newline To profile the heat stress using environmental heat stress measurements in various occupational sectors to assess the perceptions about heat stress among workers in various occupational sector to assess the impacts of heat stress on health of the workers using select physiological variables newline newlineMaterials and Methods This study was conducted in six occupational sectors from Tamil Nadu which included 3 formal and 3 informal sectors 750 workers were recruited from the six occupational sectors during summer and winter This study included environmental heat assessment with the help of WBGT monitor questionnaire administration and health assessment which included core body temperature, heart rate, perfusion index sweat rate newline newlineResults The measured WBGT ranged between 26 C to 41C with an average of 31C during summer In winter WBGT ranged between 22 C to 40 with an average of 26 C This study has demonstrated statistically significant increase in core body temperature heart rate sweat rate perfusion index and urinary specific gravity after work in excessive heat stress conditions during summer and winter newline newlineConclusion This study from south India has highlighted the physiological responses to occupational heat stress in several occupational sectors and has provided recommendations to reduce heat stress which can aid in reduction of health impacts and improve productivity newline newline