Hot environment and health problems of outdoor workers at a construction site
Open accessAbstract
The aim of this research was to understand hot working environment at a construction site in summer and its effects on health of workers. In the subjective construction site, some measures, such as taking a break during work, setting tents and electric fans, and drinking cool water, had already been taken to reduce heat stress. Twelve male workers were examined. The WBGT outdoors during work varied from 23 to 34 degrees C. The time-motion study revealed that one subject worked exceeding 7 hours, and that the other one had little rest time and drank little water during work. Few items of subjective symptoms increased after work compared with before work. In blood chemical data, electrolytes and blood urea nitrogen did not change. Blood sugar before work was significantly higher than before lunch and after work. Two subjects showed serum osmotic pressures increased after work. Two had the tendency to increase the blood pressure during work. The measures seemed effective, because the effects of work were not remarkable in general. However, some problems were still pointed out. Thus, stricter work control and health care for workers are necessary, such as controlling working hours strictly and monitoring the water intake during work.
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Preventive heat stress measures like the provision of electric fans for ventilation, cool water dispensers, ice machines and structured rest periods were crucial in reducing heat stress.
“In a study on Japanese construction workers, Morioka et al. (2006) [37] and [36] has found that preventive heat stress measures like the provision of electric fans for ventilation, cool water dispensers, ice machines and structured rest periods were crucial in reducing heat stress.”
From Assessing Heat Stress and Health among Construction Workers in a Changing Climate: A Review (2018) · cites this paper as [37]
The Discussion says that cool water, limits on working hours and other measures appeared effective in reducing heat stress; the Methods also report a scheduled 40-minute break. But the paper does not mention ice machines, and the Discussion says electric fans were placed only indoors, not used to ventilate the outdoor work area. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAmong construction workers, physiological adaptation to heat stress begins within three to four days of working in hot conditions but the hormonal regulation process of acclimatization starts three to four weeks later.
“Morioka et al. (2006) [37] points out that among construction workers, physiological adaptation to heat stress begins within three to four days of working in hot conditions but the hormonal regulation process of acclimatization starts three to four weeks later.”
From Assessing Heat Stress and Health among Construction Workers in a Changing Climate: A Review (2018) · cites this paper as [37]
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Cites
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Flouris, A. D., Dinas, P. C., Ioannou, L. G., Nybo, L., Havenith, G., Kenny, G. P., & Kjellstrom, T. (2018) · The Lancet Planetary Health · doi:10.1016/s2542-5196(18)30237-7 · Cited by 579 · see citing works
“113,120 It is important to note that seven 67,74,85,87,94,132,135 of the 47 studies excluded in our meta-analyses showed no effect of workplace environmental heat stress on the prevalence of heat-related illness or health outcomes.”
Health Impacts of Workplace Heat Exposure: An Epidemiological Review
XIANG, J., BI, P., PISANIELLO, D., & HANSEN, A. (2014) · Industrial Health · doi:10.2486/indhealth.2012-0145 · Cited by 393 · see citing works
Assessing Heat Stress and Health among Construction Workers in a Changing Climate: A Review
Acharya, P., Boggess, B., & Zhang, K. (2018) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph15020247 · Cited by 237 · see citing works
“2006 [37] Wakayama Prefecture, Japan August 1998 Construction workers (N = 12 male workers) Cross-sectional study Participants in the study WBGT Health problems as measured by blood urea nitrogen (BUN), blood sugar, serum osmotic pressure 1.”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialXiang, J., Bi, P., Pisaniello, D., Hansen, A., & Sullivan, T. (2014) · Occupational and Environmental Medicine · doi:10.1136/oemed-2013-101584 · Cited by 155 · see citing works
- Authors
- MORIOKA, I., MIYAI, N., & MIYASHITA, K.
- Affiliations
- Wakayama Medical University (JP)
- Venue
- Industrial Health
- Published
- 2006
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 474-480
- ISSN
- 0019-8366 (ISSN-L)
- 1880-8026
- OpenAlex
- W1976672901
- Cited by
- 94
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Industrial Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- 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 › Animal Science and Zoology › Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Keywords
- heat stress, outdoor workers, construction workers, wet bulb globe temperature, time and motion study, rest time, water intake, blood glucose, serum osmotic pressure, blood pressure, occupational health, working hours
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Facility Design and Construction, Health Status, Hot Temperature, Humans, Japan, Male, Middle Aged, Monitoring, Physiologic, Seasons, Occupational Exposure
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