title: Occupational Heat Stress Impacts on Health and Productivity in a Steel Industry in Southern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Workers laboring in steel industries in tropical settings with high ambient temperatures are subjected to thermally stressful environments that can create well-known risks of heat-related illnesses and limit workers' productivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study undertaken in a steel industry in a city nicknamed "Steel City" in Southern India assessed thermal stress by wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and level of dehydration from urine color and urine specific gravity. A structured questionnaire captured self-reported heat-related health symptoms of workers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some 90% WBGT measurements were higher than recommended threshold limit values (27.2-41.7°C) for heavy and moderate workloads and radiational heat from processes were very high in blooming-mill/coke-oven (67.6°C globe temperature). Widespread heat-related health concerns were prevalent among workers, including excessive sweating, fatigue, and tiredness reported by 50% workers. Productivity loss was significantly reported high in workers with direct heat exposures compared to those with indirect heat exposures (χ2= 26.1258, degrees of freedom = 1,p< 0.001). Change in urine color was 7.4 times higher among workers exposed to WBGTs above threshold limit values (TLVs).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary evidence shows that high heat exposures and heavy workload adversely affect the workers' health and reduce their work capacities. Health and productivity risks in developing tropical country work settings can be further aggravated by the predicted temperature rise due to climate change, without appropriate interventions. Apart from industries enhancing welfare facilities and designing control interventions, further physiological studies with a seasonal approach and interventional studies are needed to strengthen evidence for developing comprehensive policies to protect workers employed in high heat industries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Manikandan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krishnamurthy
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Paramesh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramalingam
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Kumaravel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Perumal
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Latha Perumal
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kamalakannan
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Jeremiah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chinnadurai
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Rekha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shanmugam
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Krishnan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Vidhya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Venugopal
keywords: climate change; health risks; occupational heat stress; productivity loss; steel industry