Heat exposure in sugarcane harvesters in Costa rica
Open accessAbstract
Background: Occupational heat stress is a major concern in sugarcane production and has been hypothesized as a causal factor of a chronic kidney disease epidemic in Central America. This study described working conditions of sugarcane harvesters in Costa Rica and quantified their exposure to heat. Methods: Non‐participatory observation and Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures (WBGT) according to Spanish NTP (Technical Prevention Notes) guidelines were utilized to quantify the risk of heat stress. OSHA recommendations were used to identify corresponding exposure limit values. Results: Sugarcane harvesters carried out labor‐intensive work with a metabolic load of 261 W/m 2 (6.8 kcal/min), corresponding to a limit value of 26° WBGT which was reached by 7:30 am on most days. After 9:15 am, OSHA recommendations would require that workers only work 25% of each hour to avoid health risks from heat. Conclusions: Sugarcane harvesters are at risk for heat stress for the majority of the work shift. Immediate action is warranted to reduce such exposures. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:1157–1164, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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The unexpected peak in WBGT values in the early morning hours identified in our study resembled the early peak occurring well before noon in a study of heat stress exposure among sugarcane harvesters in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
“The unexpected peak in WBGT values in the early morning hours identified in our study resembled the early peak occurring well before noon in a study of heat stress exposure among sugarcane harvesters in Guanacaste, a coastal province in Costa Rica (Crowe et al., 2013).”
From Assessment of Heat Stress Exposure among Construction Workers in the Hot Desert Climate of Saudi Arabia (2019) · cites this paper as Crowe et al., 2013
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References 24 · Cited by 134
- Authors
- Crowe, J., Wesseling, C., Solano, B. R., Umaña, M. P., Ramírez, A. R., Kjellstrom, T., Morales, D., & Nilsson, M.
- Affiliations
- Universidad Nacional (CR)
- School of Engineering in Occupational Health and Environmental Hygiene Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica Heredia Costa Rica
- Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (CR)
- Umeå University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Crowe, Jennifer
- Venue
- American Journal of Industrial Medicine
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2013-06-17
- Volume
- 56
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1157-1164
- ISSN
- 0271-3586 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-0274
- OpenAlex
- W2163087254
- Cited by
- 134
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 11
- FWCI
- 7.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- American Journal of Industrial Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Repositorio Académico Institucional de la Universidad Nacional (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Australian National University
- Umeå Universitet
- Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Agriculture and Farm Safety
- Keywords
- occupational heat stress, sugarcane harvester, wet bulb globe temperature, chronic kidney disease, agricultural labor, working conditions, Costa Rica
- MeSH terms
- Agriculture, Costa Rica, Hot Temperature, Humans, Time Factors, Occupational Exposure, Heat Stress Disorders
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