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A Short Review on Heat Stress and Heat Strain in Construction Industry: The Effect on Worker Performance, Associated Health Effect, It’s Measurement and Control Mechanism

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Human-Centered Technology for a Better Tomorrow

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering ((LNME))

Abstract

Prolonged exposure to hot and humid environments increases the probability of heat load that may cause harm to an individual. It is estimated that 35% of individuals working in heat stress condition experience occupational heat strain and 30% experience productivity loss. Worker's start to experience heat stress when Web Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is over 22 °C for intense work and WBGT over 25 °C for non-intense work. Furthermore, working at a temperature above 32.2 °C in a hot-humid environment and 33 °C in a hot-dry climate have shown to have an impact on workers mental performance. This include reduce in workers speed of response, reasoning ability, visual perception, associative learning, and mental alertness. Therefore, objective of this study is to identify heat stress and strain control mechanism that have been developed in order to maintain construction workers safety and health. The review was done by analyzing past journal and article related with heat stress control mechanism for construction workers. Preventive safeguard measures from heat stress includes providing drinking water or sports drinks, rescheduling non-essential work, work break cycles and providing shades. Furthermore, Middle East countries implement regulation that ban working from 12 noon to 3 p.m. In addition, employer need to be proactive by monitoring worker condition on site and promote ‘drink water’ culture. In conclusion, there are numerous heat stress control and mechanism implemented to protect construction worker safety and health. The control mechanisms reduce heat stress by hydrating the worker through drinking water or reducing worker contact with sunlight.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

    Che Mohammad Nizam

  2. Faculty of Creative Technology and Heritage, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Pengkalan Chepa, Malaysia

    Che Mohammad Nizam & Ahmad Rasdan Ismail

  3. Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia

    Ezrin Hani Sukadrin

  4. Department of Educational Planning and Research, Institute of Teacher Education, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia

    Nor Kamilah Mokhtar

  5. Deputy Research and Innovation Office, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Pengkalan Chepa, Malaysia

    Arham Abdullah

  6. Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

    Norfadzilah Jusoh

  7. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic of Ibrahim Sultan, Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia

    Norlini Husshin

Authors
  1. Che Mohammad Nizam
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  2. Ahmad Rasdan Ismail
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  3. Ezrin Hani Sukadrin
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  4. Nor Kamilah Mokhtar
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  5. Arham Abdullah
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  6. Norfadzilah Jusoh
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  7. Norlini Husshin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Che Mohammad Nizam .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Mohd Hasnun Arif Hassan

  2. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Zulkifli Ahmad (a) Manap

  3. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Mohamad Zairi Baharom

  4. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Nasrul Hadi Johari

  5. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Ummu Kulthum Jamaludin

  6. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Muhammad Hilmi Jalil

  7. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Idris Mat Sahat

  8. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Mohd Nadzeri Omar

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Nizam, C.M. et al. (2022). A Short Review on Heat Stress and Heat Strain in Construction Industry: The Effect on Worker Performance, Associated Health Effect, It’s Measurement and Control Mechanism. In: Hassan, M.H.A., et al. Human-Centered Technology for a Better Tomorrow. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4115-2_45

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4115-2_45

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-16-4114-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-16-4115-2

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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