Occupational Health and Safety, Holcim, Nicaragua, S.A.
Glob Health Action. 2009 Nov 11;2. doi: 10.3402/gha.v2i0.2069.
Heat illness is a major cause of preventable morbidity worldwide. Workers exposed to intense heat can become unable to activate compensation mechanisms, putting their health at risk. Heat stress also has a direct impact on production by causing poor task performance and it increases the possibility of work-related morbidity and injuries. During the sugarcane harvest period, workers are exposed to excessive sunlight and heat from approximately 6 am to 3 pm. A first assessment of heat stress during the 2006/2007 harvesting season served to redesign the existing rehydration measures. In this project, sugarcane workers were provided with more rehydration solutions and water during their work schedule.
To assess heat stress preventive measures in order to improve existing rehydration strategies as a means of increasing productivity.
A small group of 22 workers were followed up for 15 days during working hours, from 6 am to 3 pm. Selection criteria were defined: to have worked more than 50% of the day's working schedule and to have worked for at least 10 days of the follow-up period. A simple data recollection sheet was used. Information regarding the amount of liquid intake was registered. Production output data was also registered. Temperature measurements were recorded by using a portable temperature monitoring device ('EasyLog', model EL-USB-2).
The average temperature measurements were above the Nicaraguan Ministry of Labour thresholds. Seven workers drank 7-8 L of liquid, improving their production. Output production increased significantly (p=0.005) among those best hydrated, from 5.5 to 8 tons of cut sugarcane per worker per day.
Productivity improved with the new rehydration measures. Awareness among workers concerning heat stress prevention was increased.
热疾病是全球可预防发病率的主要原因。暴露于强烈热量下的工人可能无法激活补偿机制，从而使他们的健康处于危险之中。热应激也会直接影响生产，导致任务表现不佳，并增加与工作相关的发病率和伤害的可能性。在甘蔗收获期间，工人从早上 6 点到下午 3 点暴露在过多的阳光和热量下。2006/2007 收获季节的第一次热应激评估有助于重新设计现有的补液措施。在这个项目中，在工人的工作时间表内为他们提供了更多的补液溶液和水。
评估热应激预防措施，以改进现有的补液策略，从而提高生产力。
在工作时间内，对 22 名工人进行了为期 15 天的跟踪，从早上 6 点到下午 3 点。选择标准如下：工作时间超过 50%，并在跟踪期内工作至少 10 天。使用了一张简单的数据记录表。记录液体摄入量。还记录了产量数据。使用便携式温度监测设备（“EasyLog”，型号 EL-USB-2）记录温度测量值。
平均温度测量值高于尼加拉瓜劳动部的阈值。七名工人喝了 7-8 升液体，提高了他们的产量。最佳补水工人的产量显著增加（p=0.005），从每天每个工人 5.5 到 8 吨砍甘蔗。
新的补液措施提高了生产力。工人对热应激预防的认识有所提高。
