Journal of Preventive Medicine

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Ghanbary Sartang A, Habibi E, Palyzban F, Abedi M, Dehghan H, Sadeghi S. Assessment of occupational exposure to heat stress based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature index in the steel industry workers. J Prevent Med 2017; 4 (2) :26-31
URL: http://jpm.hums.ac.ir/article-1-245-en.html

Introduction: Heat stress in many industries, including steel industries, is a serious threat to the health and safety of workers. The aim of this study was to assess the occupational exposure to heat stress based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature index in the steel industry workers.
Methods: This descriptive - analytical study was conducted in 11 workstations with occupational exposure to heat in a steel industry in 2013. A Wet Bulb Globe Temperature meter was used to measure the heat stress. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and inferentional statistics.
Results: The results showed that the highest exposure to heat stress was related to the rolling operator (31.5° C) and the minimal exposure to heat stress was in the operator main room (18.52 ° C). In the case of furnace, lift, ruffing, wrench, rolling work, Scissors, and the lathe operators, the heat exposure exceeded the occupational exposure limits.
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that working in the steel industries, due to the exothermic processes, is a threat for the health of the workers of this type of industry. Therefore, heat control and interventional plans should be considered to reduce the heat stress in such industries.