Abstract
Currently, occupational heat exposure is usually measured using environmental variables such as the wet bulb globe temperature index. The costs of heat stress monitoring include the acquisition of specialized equipment and the recruitment of trained personnel. In rapidly changing environments, such as outdoor settings, these assessments must be conducted on a daily basis. The wet bulb globe temperature index has been criticized as a measure of heat stress for its failure to account for individual differences in susceptibility to heat stress, age, body mass index, physical fitness, clothing, illnesses and use of alcohol or drugs. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between heart rate and body temperature in heat-exposed workers to determine whether heart rate can be used to monitor and prevent heat stress and physiological strain. This study was based on previous literature as well as physiological and environmental data collected from 10 individuals engaged in heavy physical labor. Heart rate, which has been recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) as a possible measure of heat stress, follows a similar trend to body temperature with a slight temporal delay. Heart rate monitors with alarm systems could be developed to notify workers when to slow down their activities or take a break for thermal recovery, thereby contributing to the prevention of heat-related illness.
Highlights
Exposure to extreme heat is a public and occupational health concern
The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between heart rate (HR) and body temperature in sugarcane cutters under normal outdoor working conditions, where all participants were physically able to perform their duties as determined by clinical examination
The results showed that HR remained much lower in the group that took multiple breaks
Summary
Exposure to extreme heat is a public and occupational health concern. The incidence of illness and death during summer months increases every year. Heat exposure in occupational environments affects worker health and productivity, and increases the likelihood of occupational accidents.[3,4,5] This, in turn, has a negative impact on household consumption rates, social inequality and the gross domestic product (GDP).[6] Excess heat exposure can be prevented in several ways, the most important of which is monitoring. The most common method of heat exposure monitoring involves the assessment of environmental parameters, such as natural wet bulb temperature, globe temperature and dry bulb temperature, which can be used to calculate the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index. The WBGT index is the most well-known international measure of occupational heat exposure, and is used to evaluate the exposure of groups of workers, regardless of individual susceptibility to heat stress.[7]
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