Acclimatization, Water Intake Adequacy Rate, Individual Characteristics and Heat Strain: A Cross-Sectional Study on Heat Exposed Workers

Abstract

Someone will have a greater risk of experiencing heat strains if working at a workplace exposed to heat. In addition to the heat from the body's metabolic results and the result of heat exposure from the work environment, heat strain on workers also influenced by individual factors. The extent to which an individual's body can tolerate heat exposure is determined by the condition of his body. Physiological changes will occur in the body of workers who exposed to heat. The objective of this study was to analyse factors related to heat strain such as acclimatization, water intake adequacy rate, and individual characteristics. The research was an observational analytic study and study design that used was cross-sectional. The population chosen as the research subject was workers who were exposed to heat. Purposively 57 construction workers were selected as subjects. To prove the relationship between acclimatization, water intake adequacy rate, and individual characteristics with heat strain, it used chi square statistical test. Physiological Strain Index (PSI) used to assess heat strain event on workers. The results of outdoor WBGT measurements at the study site showed that the average of WBGT outdoor was 31.11 o C. Heat strain with high index experienced by the majority of workers as much as 82.5%. Result of statistical analysis showed the significance of each variable was acclimatization (p<0.05), water intake adequacy rate (p<0.05), alcohol and drug consumption (p>0.05), health status (p>0.05), body mass index (p<0.05), age (p>0.05), and work period (p>0.05). This study showed that there was a significant relationship between heat strain with acclimatization, water intake adequacy rate and body mass index. The relationship is evidenced by the results of bivariate analysis. However, there was no association between consumption of alcohol or drugs, health status, work period, and age with heat strain.

Climate Change and Heat Stress Resilient Outdoor Workers: Findings from Systematic Literature Review

“…The implementation of strategies to ensure adequate hydration, including access to drinking water and programs to improve hydration status (13,14,22,29,42,45,47), is one of the most critical interventions for managing warm workplaces. Hydrated workers (25,31,33,(35)(36)(37)(38)45) are more likely to maintain an acceptable work rate and physical activity without health risks in various hot-dry and hot-humid weather conditions (22). Employers bear the responsibility of providing a safe work environment, conducting training and awareness programs (14,33,36,38,39,45,47), supervision (48), and providing suitable protective equipment to mitigate the negative effects of thermal stress due to global warming on safety and health (23,47).…”

“…Despite variations in study design and analytical approaches, the evidence presented in this systematic review consistently highlights a strong association between thermal stress resulting from global warming and occupational heat stress. (31,32,35,45), lack of sleep (31,32,38,45), experience of a previous HRI (30,32,(42)(43)(44)(45), presence of certain concurrent diseases and chronic diseases (33,45), kidney disease (23,29,36,41,44,45), consumption of caffeine and alcohol (23,25,27,32,35,38,39,44,45), smoking (27), use of drugs (23,35,38,39,45), age (14, 31, 33, 36-39, 44, 45), older workers with low education (36,38,41,42,44,45), physical tness (23,30,38,…”

“…This is often followed by heat exhaustion (45,46) or tiredness (45), headaches (45), heat rash (45), and fainting (45). In general, as age increases (25,43), chronic dehydration becomes more common (41,45), sweat gland response slows (8), the likelihood of heart failure increases (47), blood ow to the skin increases, plasma volume decreases, and the incidence of fatal and non-fatal heat stroke, as well as dehydration, becomes less (23,35,44,45). Additionally, personal factors correlated with occupational heat strain include the adequacy of water intake (39,45).…”

“…Maintaining good quality working conditions and a suitable climate can signi cantly improve worker performance, productivity, and company pro ts (35). Workplace management and training programs (14,33,36,38,39,45,47) are crucial for worker well-being.…”

“…Outdoor workers can take several measures to protect themselves. They should consider adjusting their work schedule (33,45), maintaining adequate hydration (25,31,33,(35)(36)(37)(38)45), adjusting their clothing (28, 33, 45), drinking more water (Pogačar et al, 2017), or drinking plenty of cool water frequently before feeling thirsty (13,23,39,42,45). It's important to take more frequent planned breaks (33,36,42), wear broad-brimmed hats (33,37,39,45) and ventilated helmets (25), understand how to self-pace (13,36,38,42,45), wear sunprotective gear (36, 47), including sunglasses and gloves during hot weather conditions (39), and take work breaks and rest in cooler or shaded areas (13, 25, 31, 33, 36-39, 41, 42, 45).…”