Occupational Heat Stress: Multi-Country Observations and Interventions

Leonidas G. Ioannou, Konstantinos Mantzios, Lydia Tsoutsoubi, Eleni Nintou, Maria Vliora, Paraskevi Gkiata, Constantinos N. Dallas, Giorgos Gkikas, Gerasimos Agaliotis, Kostas Sfakianakis, Areti K. Kapnia, Davide J. Testa, Tânia Amorim, Petros C. Dinas, Tiago S. Mayor, Chuansi Gao, Lars Nybo and Andreas D. Flouris
Additional contact information
Leonidas G. Ioannou: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Konstantinos Mantzios: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Lydia Tsoutsoubi: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Eleni Nintou: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Maria Vliora: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Paraskevi Gkiata: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Constantinos N. Dallas: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Giorgos Gkikas: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Gerasimos Agaliotis: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Kostas Sfakianakis: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Areti K. Kapnia: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Davide J. Testa: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Tânia Amorim: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Petros C. Dinas: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Tiago S. Mayor: SIMTECH Laboratory, Transport Phenomena Research Centre, Engineering Faculty of Porto University, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Chuansi Gao: Thermal Environment Laboratory, Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden
Lars Nybo: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, August Krogh Building, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Andreas D. Flouris: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-21

Abstract: Background: Occupational heat exposure can provoke health problems that increase the risk of certain diseases and affect workers’ ability to maintain healthy and productive lives. This study investigates the effects of occupational heat stress on workers’ physiological strain and labor productivity, as well as examining multiple interventions to mitigate the problem. Methods: We monitored 518 full work-shifts obtained from 238 experienced and acclimatized individuals who work in key industrial sectors located in Cyprus, Greece, Qatar, and Spain. Continuous core body temperature, mean skin temperature, heart rate, and labor productivity were collected from the beginning to the end of all work-shifts. Results: In workplaces where self-pacing is not feasible or very limited, we found that occupational heat stress is associated with the heat strain experienced by workers. Strategies focusing on hydration, work-rest cycles, and ventilated clothing were able to mitigate the physiological heat strain experienced by workers. Increasing mechanization enhanced labor productivity without increasing workers’ physiological strain. Conclusions: Empowering laborers to self-pace is the basis of heat mitigation, while tailored strategies focusing on hydration, work-rest cycles, ventilated garments, and mechanization can further reduce the physiological heat strain experienced by workers under certain conditions.

Keywords: heat stress; work; mitigation; labor productivity; physiological strain; hydration; breaks; ventilated garments; mechanization; ice slurry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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