title: Comparison of workers' perceptions toward work climate and health symptoms between ceramic and iron foundry workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Workers exposed to heavy manual material handling (MMH) in a hot working environment succumb to severe physical stress and psychological stress.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  (1) Recognize the heat load at workplaces of ceramic industry and iron industry, and (2) comparatively examine the characteristics of self-reported physiological responses and heat-health perception among these workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Workplace microclimate in the ceramic industry and iron industry was monitored. An ergonomic checklist and a questionnaire was used to record self-reported workers' perceptions toward heat stress at workplace (ceramic workers N = 321, iron foundry workers N = 253). The prevalence rates of subjective symptoms among workers of both the industries were compared.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chi-square test was used to examine the association between stressors and health complaints at a significance level set at P < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Iron foundries recorded higher mean ambient temperature (43.4 ± 3.7°C) and wet-bulb globe temperature (WGBT) index (31.5 ± 0.7°C) as compared to ceramic industries (39.9 ± 3.3°C and 28 ± 1.5°C, respectively). Heavy sweating, elevated body temperature, sleeplessness, excessive thirst, muscular discomforts, and fatigue were prime symptoms recorded among workers of both industries. Skin-related disorders (red face, dry skin, bumps, itching) were significantly higher among iron foundry workers, whereas sleeplessness, high blood pressure, heavy sweating, kidney stone, decreased urination, muscular discomforts, and fatigue were significantly more among ceramic workers. Young workers reported more sweating and fatigue than older workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A hot work climate and heavy manual labor designate ceramic and iron industries as arduous. Direct contact with hot surface and continuous MMH in tandem with the mechanical pace of production process makes work in ceramic industries more difficult than iron foundries.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Joydeep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Majumder
authors.affiliation: Regional Occupational Health Centre (Southern), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Bhavani S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Bagepally
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kotadiya
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Nibedita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naha
keywords: Heat stress; manual material handling; occupational health; rate of perceived exertion; workplace environment