1. Targeting workload to ameliorate risk of heat stress in industrial sugarcane workers
- Author
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Rebekah A I, Lucas, Bethany D, Skinner, Esteban, Arias-Monge, Kristina, Jakobsson, Catharina, Wesseling, Ilana, Weiss, Scarlette, Poveda, Fatima I, Cerda-Granados, Jason, Glaser, Erik, Hansson, and David H, Wegman
- Subjects
Male ,Hot Temperature ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Humans ,Water ,Female ,Workload ,Heat Stress Disorders ,Heat-Shock Response ,Saccharum - Abstract
The aim of this study was to quantify the physiological workload of manual laborers in industrial sugarcane and assess the effect of receiving a rest, shade, and hydration intervention to reduce heat stress exposure risk.In an observational study, physiological workload was evaluated for burned cane cutters (BCC), seed cutters (SC) and drip irrigation repair workers (DIRW) using heart rate (HR) recorded continuously (Polar®) across a work shift. Workers' percentage of maximal HR (%HRA total of 162 workers participated in this study [52 BCC (all male), 71 SC (13 female) and 39 DIRW (16 female)]. Average %HRmax across a work shift was similar between BCC and SC (BCC: 58%, SC: 59%), but lower in DIRW (51%). BCC and SC spent similar proportions of work shifts at hard/very hard intensities (BCC: 13%, SC: 15%), versus DIRW who worked mostly at light (46%) or light-moderate (39%) intensities. SC maximum ECTemp reached 38.2°C, BCC 38.1°C; while DIRW only reached 37.7°C. Females performed at a higher %HRIn this setting, BCC and SC both undertake very physiologically demanding work. Females maintained a higher workload than male co-workers. Regulated rest periods each hour, with water and shade access, appears to reduce physiological workload/strain.
- Published
- 2022
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