Heat Levels Assessment and Health Effects of Heat Exposure among Workers in Sukhothai Historical Park

Abstract

            In summer, the temperature in Sukhothai Historical Park is higher than other seasons. The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of wet–bulb globe temperature (WBGT), workload in the work area and the factors related to health effects of heat among 355 workers in the Sukhothai Historical Park. The research tools were the QUESTemp 32 Heat Monitor and the questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics and the correlation was analyzed using the chi–square test.

            The results were shown that the WBGT at the indoor working area ranged from 32.7 to 34.0 oC. Most of samples (78.87%) had light workload and of 21.13% had moderate workload. The WBGT was beyond the law (> 32.0 oC) in the work area of participants with moderate workload. The samples had at least one symptom or more (34.4%) of health effects from heat. The most common symptoms were heat exhaustion (25.1%), followed by heat rash (16.1%), heat syncope (9.0%) and heat cramps (2.5%), respectively. However, there were no symptoms of heat stroke. The factors associated with health effects from heat statistically significant at the 0.05 level were age > 40 years, non–standard body mass index, participants with congenital disease, work hours > 8 hour per day, above standard criteria of workplace WBGT compared to workload and daily water intake < 10 glasses. Furthermore, those participants had more chance of health effects from heat at least one symptom or more at 2.2, 1.6, 2.3, 3.1, 5.0 and 3.4 times than those of comparison group, respectively. As a result, it has been shown that the heat level in indoor workplace during the summer affect the health of workers.

            Keywords: WBGT, Workload, Health effect, Worker