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:: Volume 9, Issue 3 (summer 2018) ::
j.health 2018, 9(3): 302-313 Back to browse issues page
Effect of Heat Stress on Productivity Loss of Outdoor Workers: A Case Study in a Hot and Dry Climate
R Hajizadeh , S Farhang Dehghan , A Mehri , S.M Jafari , F* Golbabaei * , H Haghighat jou
Tehran University of Medical Sciences,
Abstract:   (3641 Views)
Background & objectives: Heat stress at workplaces can cause several problems including decreased thermal comfort and increased heat strain; moreover, it can effect negatively on worker performance and productivity. The present study aims to investigate the effect of heat stress on performance loss among outdoor workers in a hot and dry climate.
Methods: An analytic study was conducted during four months from June to September 2013, in one of the provinces of Iran (Qom). Environmental parameters including dry temperature, surface temperature of soil , solar radiation, relative humidity and air velocity were measured in weather stations every ten minutes between 7 am and 7 pm (in total, 8598 measurements). Potential labor performance losses based on WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) heat stress index provided by Australian Bureau of Meteorology were determined using a graph presented by Kjellstrom. SPSS 16 was applied for all statistical analysis.
Results: The total average of WBGT was 27±2.57 °C. The maximum WBGT (28.59°C) was obtained between 3 and 4 pm. The average performance loss in jobs with power of 200, 300, 400 and 500 watts was 1.6%±0.43, 9.6±1.94, 19.65±2.68, 65.53±2.68 and 29.1±2.5 respectively. A statistically significant relationship was found between WBGT values and percentage of performance loss.
Conclusion: Outdoor workers in warm seasons with hot-dry climate experience the loss of performance, which can effect adversely on labor health and economy growth of country.
Keywords: Loss of Performance, Heat Stress, WBGT, Outdoor Works
Full-Text [PDF 465 kb]   (1033 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2018/07/14 | Accepted: 2018/07/14 | Published: 2018/07/14
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Hajizadeh R, Farhang Dehghan S, Mehri A, Jafari S, Golbabaei F, Haghighat jou H. Effect of Heat Stress on Productivity Loss of Outdoor Workers: A Case Study in a Hot and Dry Climate. j.health 2018; 9 (3) :302-313
URL: http://healthjournal.arums.ac.ir/article-1-1563-en.html


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Volume 9, Issue 3 (summer 2018) Back to browse issues page
مجله سلامت و بهداشت Journal of Health
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