Heat Stress-Related Symptoms among Bakery Workers in Lebanon: A National Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Heat exposure is linked to a range of heat-related illnesses and injuries. This study assessed the association between workers’ perceptions of the work environment and reports of heat stress-related health symptoms in bakery workers in Lebanon. A national cross-sectional survey of workers was carried out in 504 bakeries in Lebanon. One worker in each bakery was interviewed using questions relating to the workplace environment and heat stress-related health symptoms. Heat and humidity measurements were recorded in bakeries. Descriptive analyses were performed, and logistic regression assessed relationships between the workplace environment, worker perceptions, and reports of heat stress-related health symptoms. In total, 47.2% of workers experienced heat stress-related symptoms, 83% perceived workplace temperatures as hot, and 48% perceived these temperatures as affecting their health. Humidex readings showed that 49% of bakeries had conditions unsafe for routine work tasks. Working under pressure (AOR = 1.65; 95% CI = 1.12-2.43), job dissatisfaction (AOR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.12-2.79), and perceptions that high temperatures negatively affected health (AOR = 2.73; 95% CI = 1.87-3.99) were all significantly correlated to reports of heat stress-related symptoms. Females were more likely to experience heat stress-related symptoms (AOR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.13-3.39). Workers who reported low levels of water consumption at work were also more likely to experience heat stress-related health symptoms. We conclude that heat exposure potentially impacts workers’ health in Lebanese bakeries. Improvements in workplace conditions, adequate infrastructure, and workers’ training are key interventions for maintaining workers’ health.

The influence of occupational heat stress on serum inflammatory cytokines among traditional bakery workers in Iran

“…Despite the importance of this topic, there are not enough comprehensive studies investigating the effect of occupational conditions such as heat, on physiological and clinical changes in workers [ 50 , 51 ]. ISO 12894 does not explicitly call for individual tests of heat tolerance to be conducted in the section considering “Individual heat strain monitoring [ 52 ], but equally this international standard does require those overseeing the welfare of those working in conditions in which exposure to high heat cannot be avoided.…”

The Effects of Heat Stress on Bakery Workers: A Systematic Review

“…Because of the work equipment in their work environment, bakers are among the occupations that are exposed to diseases and disorders caused by heat ( 31 ). The working conditions of the bakers in the workstations are such that they provide the ground for suffering from heat disorders ( 22 ).…”

“…The results of a cross-sectional study involving 504 bakers in Lebanon showed that almost half of the bakers had experienced symptoms of heat stress and were in poor working conditions ( 31 ). This is more evident in workers working in traditional bakeries than in bakers working in industrial bakeries ( 16 ).…”

“…Following the occurrence of heat stress (body temperature above 38 °C), adverse symptoms such as heat stroke, dry skin, tremors and dizziness, fainting, fatigue and weakness, nausea, and muscle cramps appear in the person ( 12 , 31 ). In this case, the person’s body responds to various physiological responses to the heat pressure from the environment, including increased heart rate and increased body temperature.…”

Workers’ Perception Heat Stress: Results from a Pilot Study Conducted in Italy during the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020

“…A better understanding of how workers perceive the risks of exposure to heat in the workplace is necessary for the development of heat prevention strategies [35] and to minimize the impact of extremely high temperatures on the health and safety of workers [44]. However, only a few studies have investigated perceptions of heat risk among workers [9,19,21,22,[24][25][26][27]45,46].…”