Heat-related illness risk and associated personal and environmental factors of construction workers during work in summer

Takeyasu Kakamu,Tetsuhito Fukushima,Shota Endo,Hideaki Kasuga,Yusuke Masuishi,Tomoo Hidaka

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-79876-w

Takeyasu Kakamu, Tetsuhito Fukushima + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79876-w

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Journal: Scientific Reports	Publication Date: Jan 13, 2021
Citations: 16	License type: open-access

Affiliation: Fukushima Medical University

Abstract

Heat-related illness (HRI) is a common occupational injury, especially in construction workers. To explore the factors related to HRI risk in construction workers under hot outdoor working conditions, we surveyed vital and environmental data of construction workers in the summer season. Sixty-one workers joined the study and the total number of days when their vital data during working hours and environmental data were recorded was 1165. Heart rate with high-risk HRI was determined using the following formula: 180 − 0.65 × age. As a result of the logistic regression analysis, age, working area, maximum skin temperature, and heart rate immediately after warming up were significantly positively related, and experience of construction was significantly negatively related to heart rate with high-risk HRI. Heart rate immediately after warming up may indicate morning fatigue due to reasons such as insufficient sleep, too much alcohol intake the night before, and sickness. Asking morning conditions may lead to the prevention of HRI. For occupational risk management, monitoring of environmental and personal conditions is required.

Highlights

Heat-related illness (HRI) is a common occupational injury, especially in construction workers
Its monitoring might be useful for construction workers because their working site is outdoor and they often work in small group or alone
On these 1165 person-time, a high heart rate indicative of HRI risk was observed on 102 person-time (8.7%)

Summary

Introduction

Heat-related illness (HRI) is a common occupational injury, especially in construction workers. To explore the factors related to HRI risk in construction workers under hot outdoor working conditions, we surveyed vital and environmental data of construction workers in the summer season. For occupational risk management, monitoring of environmental and personal conditions is required. In 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the Unites States (U.S OSHA) declared that workplace heat illness and death incidents may increase unless employers initiate comprehensive preventive p rograms[10]. OSHA determined measures to prevent occupational HRI, such as monitoring heat conditions, workers’ conditions, adjustments of schedules and workload, scheduled breaks, and similar guidelines have been issued in Japan[12,13]. A wearable sensor enables workers to monitor their condition, making it possible to take a rest when they feel fatigue or to express that they feel unwell

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