Hydration status and physiological workload of UAE construction workers: A prospective longitudinal observational study

Graham P. Bates, John Schneider

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

103 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background. The objective of the study was to investigate the physiological responses of construction workers labouring in thermally stressful environments in the UAE using Thermal Work Limit (TWL) as a method of environmental risk assessment. Methods. The study was undertaken in May 2006. Aural temperature, fluid intake, and urine specific gravity were recorded and continuous heart rate monitoring was used to assess fatigue. Subjects were monitored over 3 consecutive shifts. TWL and WBGT were used to assess the thermal stress. Results. Most subjects commenced work euhydrated and maintained this status over a 12-hour shift. The average fluid intake was 5.44 L. There were no changes in core temperature or average heart rate between day 1 and day 3, nor between shift start and finish, despite substantial changes in thermal stress. The results obtained indicated that the workers were not physiologically challenged despite fluctuating harsh environmental conditions. Core body temperatures were not elevated suggesting satisfactory thermoregulation. Conclusion. The data demonstrate that people can work, without adverse physiological effects, in hot conditions if they are provided with the appropriate fluids and are allowed to self-pace. The findings suggested that workers will self-pace according to the conditions. The data also demonstrated that the use of WBGT (a widely used risk assessment tool) as a thermal index is inappropriate for use in Gulf conditions, however TWL was found to be a valuable tool in assessing thermal stress.

Original languageEnglish
Article number21
JournalJournal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Toxicology
  • Safety Research
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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