Krishnamurthy Manikandan, Ramalingam Paramesh, Perumal Kumaravel, Kamalakannan Latha Perumal, Chinnadurai Jeremiah, Shanmugam Rekha, Srinivasan Krishnan, Venugopal Vidhya
Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra University, Tamil Nadu, India.
Saf Health Work. 2017 Mar;8(1):99-104. doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2016.08.005. Epub 2016 Nov 3.
Workers laboring in steel industries in tropical settings with high ambient temperatures are subjected to thermally stressful environments that can create well-known risks of heat-related illnesses and limit workers' productivity.
A cross-sectional study undertaken in a steel industry in a city nicknamed "Steel City" in Southern India assessed thermal stress by wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and level of dehydration from urine color and urine specific gravity. A structured questionnaire captured self-reported heat-related health symptoms of workers.
Some 90% WBGT measurements were higher than recommended threshold limit values (27.2-41.7°C) for heavy and moderate workloads and radiational heat from processes were very high in blooming-mill/coke-oven (67.6°C globe temperature). Widespread heat-related health concerns were prevalent among workers, including excessive sweating, fatigue, and tiredness reported by 50% workers. Productivity loss was significantly reported high in workers with direct heat exposures compared to those with indirect heat exposures (χ = 26.1258, degrees of freedom = 1, < 0.001). Change in urine color was 7.4 times higher among workers exposed to WBGTs above threshold limit values (TLVs).
Preliminary evidence shows that high heat exposures and heavy workload adversely affect the workers' health and reduce their work capacities. Health and productivity risks in developing tropical country work settings can be further aggravated by the predicted temperature rise due to climate change, without appropriate interventions. Apart from industries enhancing welfare facilities and designing control interventions, further physiological studies with a seasonal approach and interventional studies are needed to strengthen evidence for developing comprehensive policies to protect workers employed in high heat industries.
在热带高温环境下的钢铁行业工作的工人面临热应激环境，这会带来众所周知的与热相关疾病的风险，并限制工人的生产力。
在印度南部一个绰号为“钢城”的城市的一家钢铁厂进行的一项横断面研究，通过湿球黑球温度（WBGT）评估热应激，并根据尿液颜色和尿比重评估脱水程度。一份结构化问卷记录了工人自我报告的与热相关的健康症状。
约90%的WBGT测量值高于重、中度工作量推荐的阈值极限（27.2 - 41.7°C），并且在初轧机/焦炉中，工艺过程产生的辐射热非常高（黑球温度为67.6°C）。工人中普遍存在与热相关的健康问题，包括50%的工人报告有过度出汗、疲劳和疲倦。与间接热暴露的工人相比，直接热暴露的工人报告的生产力损失显著更高（χ = 26.1258，自由度 = 1，< 0.001）。暴露于高于阈值极限值（TLVs）的WBGT的工人尿液颜色变化高7.4倍。
初步证据表明，高温暴露和重工作量对工人健康产生不利影响，并降低他们的工作能力。在没有适当干预的情况下，由于气候变化预计温度会上升，发展中国家热带工作环境中的健康和生产力风险可能会进一步加剧。除了行业加强福利设施和设计控制干预措施外，还需要采用季节性方法进行进一步的生理学研究和干预性研究，以加强制定保护高温行业工人的综合政策的证据。
