Assessment of Heat Stress Exposure Level and Heat- Related Illness among Habesha Steel Millworkers in Bishoftu, Dukem Sub- City, Ethiopia
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Date
2024-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Heat-related illness is a significant concern for workers in industrial settings, particularly in steel factories where high temperatures are common.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of heat-related illness, heat exposure level, and associated factors among workers in steel and water factories.
Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of heat- related illness. Data were collected using questionnaires from 396 study participants, heat exposure levels were measured through WBGT, and observation checklists were used to observe workplace environments. Descriptive and logistic regression were used for analysis using SPSS to describe the data and identify associated factors.
Results: Heat-related illness prevalence among workers in the steel factory was 150(75%) and that in the water factory was 38(19.3%) respectively. The most heat-related symptom experienced by both factories’ workers was sweating. In the steel factory, 167 (83.5%)participants, and in the water factory 125 (63.8%) of the participants reported sweating. Workers in the steel factory had higher odds of developing heat-related illnesses compared to those in the water factory (AOR, CI = 95%, 11.2 (5.8-21.55)). Proximity to heat radiant, daily water intake, group of factory, and clothing were the main significant variables (p-value<0.05). Heat exposure measurements using WBGT in the three different workplaces of the steel factory were 28.1°C, 29.1 °C, and 29.2 °C which exceeded the threshold values. WBGT in the water factory was 22.6 °C, which was in the normal range.
Conclusions:. The heat-related illness in the steel factory was higher than that of workers in the water factory. There is an increased heat stress in the steel factory compared to that of the water factory as measured by WBGT: 28.1°C, 29.1°C, and 29.2°C in the steel factory highlight levels of heat exposure that exceeded recommended safety and health thresholds.
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Heat Stress, Heat-Related Illness, Comparative Study, WBGT