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

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). The WBGT values exceed from American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) standard, 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."