Self-Assessed Threshold Temperature for Cold among Poultry Industry Workers in Thailand

Wisanti Laohaudomchok, Wantanee Phanprasit, Pajaree Konthonbut, Chaiyanun Tangtong, Penpatra Sripaiboonkij, Tiina M. Ikäheimo, Jouni J. K. Jaakkola and Simo Näyhä ()
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Wisanti Laohaudomchok: Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 73170, Thailand
Wantanee Phanprasit: Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 73170, Thailand
Pajaree Konthonbut: Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 73170, Thailand
Chaiyanun Tangtong: Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 73170, Thailand
Penpatra Sripaiboonkij: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
Tiina M. Ikäheimo: Research Unit of Population Health, University of Oulu, 90570 Oulu, Finland
Jouni J. K. Jaakkola: Research Unit of Population Health, University of Oulu, 90570 Oulu, Finland
Simo Näyhä: Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 73170, Thailand

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-21

Abstract: The self-assessed threshold temperature for cold in the workplace is not well known. We asked 392 chicken industry workers in Thailand what they regard as the cold threshold (CT) and compared subgroups of workers using linear and quantile regressions by CT sextiles (percentiles P 17 , P 33 , P 50 , P 67 , and P 83 , from warmest to coldest). The variables of interest were sex, office work, and sedentary work, with age, clothing thermal insulation, and alcohol consumption as adjustment factors. The mean CT was 14.6 °C. Office workers had a 6.8 °C higher mean CT than other workers, but the difference ranged from 3.8 °C to 10.0 °C from P 17 to P 83 . Sedentary workers had a 2.0 °C higher mean CT than others, but the difference increased from 0.5 °C to 3.0 °C through P 17 –P 83 . The mean CT did not differ between sexes, but men had a 1.6–5.0 °C higher CT at P 17 –P 50 (>20 °C) and a 5.0 °C lower CT at P 83 (<10 °C). The CT was relatively high at warm (≥10 °C), dry (relative humidity <41%), and drafty (air velocity > 0.35 m/s) worksites. We conclude that office, sedentary, and female workers and those working at warm, dry, and draughty sites are sensitive to the coldest temperatures, whereas male workers are sensitive even to moderate temperatures.

Keywords: workplace cold; cold threshold; office worker; sedentary worker; sex; poultry industry; Thailand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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