Effect of Headgear on Physiological, Physical Response of Male Farm Worker Under Heat Stress Condition

Abstract

India has a vast geographical area with variations in climate and temperature from region to region. Summers are very harsh in many parts of the country where   temperature exceeds 45°C. Most of the agricultural operations in the country are performed by manual labour in such a warm climate where it becomes difficult for the body to maintain its heat balance with the environment. In leads to heat stress many a time. Heat stress causes many heat disorders like systemic disorder, heat syncope, heat odema, heat cramp, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To minimize heat stress in warm climate many techniques are used. One of them is the use of headgear which protects the head. Farmers are using towel, pagadi, caps etc. as headgear from the last many years. The independent parameters of the study were WBGT (28, 30 and 32oC), headgears (Bamboo hat, felt hat with 90 mm brim width, white pagdi and solar hat) and subject (10 male farm workers). The dependent parameters of study were heart rate, oxygen consumption rate and overall discomfort rating. The results of the research showed that use of headgear reduced the effect of heat stress significantly on physiological parameters and physical discomfort parameters.