Ann Occup Environ Med.  2017 ;29(1):30. 10.1186/s40557-017-0183-y.

Factors affecting heat-related diseases in outdoor workers exposed to extreme heat

• Park J
• Kim Y
• Oh I

• KMID: 2455010
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-017-0183-y

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The objectives of the present study are to: (i) evaluate the effect of environmental and metabolic heat on heat-related illnesses in outdoor workers; and (ii) evaluate the effect of personal factors, including heat acclimation, on the risk of heat-related illnesses in outdoor workers.
METHODS
We identified 47 cases of illnesses from exposure to environmental heat in outdoor workers in Korea from 2010 to 2014, based on review of workers' compensation data. We also obtained the information on location, time, and work environment of each heat-related illness.
RESULTS
Our major results are that 29 cases (61.7%) occurred during a heat wave. Forty five cases (95.7%) occurred when the maximum estimated WBGT (WBGTmax) was equal to or greater than the case specific threshold value which was determined by acclimatization and metabolic rate. Twenty two cases (46.8%) were not acclimated to the heat. Thirty-seven cases (78.7%) occurred after tropical night (temperature above 25 °C), during which many people may find it hard to sleep.
CONCLUSION
Personal risk factors such as heat acclimation as well as environmental factors and high metabolic rate during work are the major determinants of heat-related illnesses.

Keyword

Acclimation; Heat wave; Tropical night; Heat-related disease; Outdoor; Workers

MeSH Terms

Acclimatization
Extreme Heat*
Hot Temperature
Humans
Infrared Rays
Korea
Risk Factors
Workers' Compensation