Page 162 - 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. 162
avje delovno aktivne populacije | health of the working-age population 160 According to Lucas et al. (2014), occupational heat exposure threatens the
health of a worker not only when heat illness occurs but also when a worker’s
performance and work capacity is impaired. Figure 4 gives a clear sign, how
high is the negative influence of heat stress on various areas, although work-
ers in the manufacturing plant and tourist guides did not have a choice of the
answer ‘impact on productivity’ due to their working regime. Only 20% office
workers and even fewer others think that there is no negative impact of heat.
The highest assessed is the negative impact on well-being (60-75%), followed
by the negative impact on productivity in agriculture (68%) and by the nega-
tive impact on mental concentration in the manufacturing plant (67%) and in
offices (56%).
Figure 5: Perceived symptoms of heat stress during work in the
summertime (808 workers).
The highest negative impact on well-being is well reflected in perceived
symptoms of heat stress (Figure 5). Thirst and excessive sweating are common
during summertime, but it can be seen that in the office is easier to drink regu-
larly than at other workplaces. Around 60% of workers in each sector are tired
because of heat stress, they are reporting also about enhanced stress and dizzi-
ness (15-30%), and confusion (5-15%). The latest three symptoms are the least ex-
pressed at office workers and comparable for the others.
Mild effects are certainly more common, but in extreme cases, people can
get seriously sick or die. Among 808 workers have 31 already been hospitalized
because of heat-induced health problems. The most common health problems
in the manufacturing plant are a headache and exhaustion (more than half of
the workers), and in other three sectors exhaustion – in agriculture, more than
60%, followed by a headache (Figure 6). In tourism is the next problem prick-
ly heat and in the manufacturing plant nausea or vomiting (more than 20%).
health of a worker not only when heat illness occurs but also when a worker’s
performance and work capacity is impaired. Figure 4 gives a clear sign, how
high is the negative influence of heat stress on various areas, although work-
ers in the manufacturing plant and tourist guides did not have a choice of the
answer ‘impact on productivity’ due to their working regime. Only 20% office
workers and even fewer others think that there is no negative impact of heat.
The highest assessed is the negative impact on well-being (60-75%), followed
by the negative impact on productivity in agriculture (68%) and by the nega-
tive impact on mental concentration in the manufacturing plant (67%) and in
offices (56%).
Figure 5: Perceived symptoms of heat stress during work in the
summertime (808 workers).
The highest negative impact on well-being is well reflected in perceived
symptoms of heat stress (Figure 5). Thirst and excessive sweating are common
during summertime, but it can be seen that in the office is easier to drink regu-
larly than at other workplaces. Around 60% of workers in each sector are tired
because of heat stress, they are reporting also about enhanced stress and dizzi-
ness (15-30%), and confusion (5-15%). The latest three symptoms are the least ex-
pressed at office workers and comparable for the others.
Mild effects are certainly more common, but in extreme cases, people can
get seriously sick or die. Among 808 workers have 31 already been hospitalized
because of heat-induced health problems. The most common health problems
in the manufacturing plant are a headache and exhaustion (more than half of
the workers), and in other three sectors exhaustion – in agriculture, more than
60%, followed by a headache (Figure 6). In tourism is the next problem prick-
ly heat and in the manufacturing plant nausea or vomiting (more than 20%).
