Korean J Occup Health Nurs.  2022 May;31(2):95-103. 10.5807/kjohn.2022.31.2.95.

Characteristics and Health Status of Outdoor Workers Exposed to High Temperature

• Lee B

• KMID: 2537015
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5807/kjohn.2022.31.2.95

Abstract

Purpose
This study aims to identify general, workplace, and health-related characteristics of outdoor workers exposed to high temperatures, and to compare the risk of disease according to outdoor high temperature exposure.
Methods
This secondary analysis study used the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey (2017) to identify 4,915 outdoor workers exposed to high temperatures.
Results
Outdoor workers exposed to high temperatures were mostly male, elderly, less educated, and daily contract workers. Most of them were engaged in agriculture, forestry and fishing, and construction industries. About 40~50% of them complained of musculoskeletal pain and overall fatigue. The results showed that high temperature exposure increased the risk of illness (hearing problem, skin problem, backache, muscular pains in upper and lower limbs, headache/ eyestrain, injuries, depression, and overall fatigue) among workers.
Conclusion
High temperature exposure might increase the risk of illness among workers. The results of this study demonstrated that the outdoor workers should be protected from high temperatures.

Keyword

Hot temperature; Worker; Health