Heat Stress among Male Workers in A Steel Company in Al Jubail city, Saudi Arabia

: Heat Stress among Male Workers in A Steel Company

Abstract

Background: Heat exposure among steel workers is a serious hazard to health. The
aim of this study was to assess heat stress among steel production workers by using of
wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) Index and heat strain score index for estimation
of heat strain in hot/humid conditions. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional
study was carried out on 186 workers of a steel company in 2019 summer in Jubail
Industrial City. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index were measured by
Heat Stress Monitor (Casella Microtherm WBGT) and Heat Strain Score Index
(HSSI) validated questionnaire. Results: The mean (SD) of WBGT values was 32.46
(2.01). Whereas the data recorded by HSSI scores showed that 24.3 % of the exposed
workers were in red dangerous zone ( severe heat strain).The correlation between
WBGT and HSSI values was ( r =0.85 (P = 0.001). Other risk factors of heat stress
among steel workers such as smoking, and overweight that affect heat stress exposure
and HSSI scores and most of them are encountered in red zone, risk score were 56.1%
and 70 % respectively.
Conclusion: In Saudi Arabia weather, especially hot and humid in the summer
months, due to the WBGT values exceeding 30°C (in 96% of cases) and strong
correlation between WBGT and HSSI scores, the work/rest cycles of WBGT Index is
not suitable for heat stress management. Therefore, in Saudi Arabia weather, heat
stress evaluation based on physiologic variables may have higher validity than WBGT
index. The findings of this study showed that steel workers are exposed to heat stress
and the heat reduction planning intervention action should be conducted to reduce
exposure

Date of Award	22 Dec 2019
Original language	American English