Assessment of Heat Stress on Human Physiology, Thermal and Physical Discomfort of Male Farm Worker

Abstract

India is characterized by strong temperature variations in different seasons ranging from mean temperature of about 10°C in winter to about 32 °C in summer season. The temperatures start to increase all over the country in March and by April; the interior parts of the peninsula record mean daily temperatures of 30-35 °C. Heat stress is a condition that is caused by worker’s over-exposure to the high temperature work environments often found in outdoor agriculture operations. Workers should be informed of the nature of heat stress and its adverse effects as well as the protective measures provided in the workplace. This operation was performed by traditionally used manually operated sickle, when the average dry bulb temperature was above 32°C which caused the heat stress during the work because of high humidity in the field. Head temperature, forehead temperature, oral temperature, left lower hand temperature, middle left-hand temperature, upper right-hand temperature, left upper chest temperature, right scapula temperature, left calf temperature and right anterior thigh temperature were measured to assess the effect of environmental heat direct sun radiation on selected farm workers during both the agricultural operations. To assess the effect of heat on the human body, physiological parameters like heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR). Thermal parameters like oral, head, left lower hand, middle left hand, upper right hand, left upper chest, right scapula, left calf, right anterior thigh, mean skin temperatures of farm workers increased with increase in WBGT due to heat stress.