Page 157 - Petelin, Ana, Nejc Šarabon, Boštjan Žvanut, eds. 2017. Zdravje delovno aktivne populacije ▪︎ Health of the Working-Age Population. Proceedings. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 157
ovenian workers – is it too hot to work?
Tjaša Pogačar, Lučka Kajfež Bogataj
University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
tjasa.pogacar@bf.uni-lj.si; lucka.kajfez.bogataj@bf.uni-lj.si
Abstract
Introduction: Frequency, duration, and intensity of heat waves have
increased in Slovenia (and Europe), so the thermal resilience of workers
is being addressed in the European Heat-Shield project (Horizon 2020).
Methods: Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index has been chosen
to assess the thermal load of workers. Air temperature and relative
humidity inside the factory are being measured to calculate WBGT,
meteorological data were gained from the Celje station. A survey about
heat stress impacts was conducted among workers (in the factory,
farmers, tourist guides, in publishing house, at faculty). Results: In the
factory reached air temperatures in August 2016 to 33°C, WBGT values
were mainly between 20 and 25°C. Workplace temperature is during
summer suitable for less than 5% workers in the factory and agriculture,
and for 20% office workers. Heat stress has a negative impact on
productivity, concentration, and well-being. Thirst, excessive sweating,
tiredness, headache, and exhaustion are common (mainly more than
55%), some have already experienced worse health problems (nausea,
prickly heat, muscle and heat cramps, fainting, heat stroke). Discussion
and conclusions: As heat stress is already causing problems, various
solutions for its mitigation will be developed and tested in the next step
of the Heat-Shield project.
Keywords: heat stress, heat wave, workers, productivity, health, well-
being
As it states in its Executive Summary, EU funded project Heat-Shield
(HS, 2016) addresses the negative impacts of workplace heat stress on
the health and productivity of the EU workforce. The main mission of
the project is to access the negative impacts of workplace heat stress on the
health and productivity of workers in strategic European industries (manufac-
doi: https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-7023-32-9.155-164
Tjaša Pogačar, Lučka Kajfež Bogataj
University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
tjasa.pogacar@bf.uni-lj.si; lucka.kajfez.bogataj@bf.uni-lj.si
Abstract
Introduction: Frequency, duration, and intensity of heat waves have
increased in Slovenia (and Europe), so the thermal resilience of workers
is being addressed in the European Heat-Shield project (Horizon 2020).
Methods: Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index has been chosen
to assess the thermal load of workers. Air temperature and relative
humidity inside the factory are being measured to calculate WBGT,
meteorological data were gained from the Celje station. A survey about
heat stress impacts was conducted among workers (in the factory,
farmers, tourist guides, in publishing house, at faculty). Results: In the
factory reached air temperatures in August 2016 to 33°C, WBGT values
were mainly between 20 and 25°C. Workplace temperature is during
summer suitable for less than 5% workers in the factory and agriculture,
and for 20% office workers. Heat stress has a negative impact on
productivity, concentration, and well-being. Thirst, excessive sweating,
tiredness, headache, and exhaustion are common (mainly more than
55%), some have already experienced worse health problems (nausea,
prickly heat, muscle and heat cramps, fainting, heat stroke). Discussion
and conclusions: As heat stress is already causing problems, various
solutions for its mitigation will be developed and tested in the next step
of the Heat-Shield project.
Keywords: heat stress, heat wave, workers, productivity, health, well-
being
As it states in its Executive Summary, EU funded project Heat-Shield
(HS, 2016) addresses the negative impacts of workplace heat stress on
the health and productivity of the EU workforce. The main mission of
the project is to access the negative impacts of workplace heat stress on the
health and productivity of workers in strategic European industries (manufac-
doi: https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-7023-32-9.155-164
