Hot Thermal Environment and its impact in productivity and accidents.

Abstract

To acknowledge the causes that restrict human body reactions to different temperature and humidity environments may be the first step toward finding solutions to minimize the problem. The present paper intends to analyze the broad effects of extreme temperatures (hot) in different occupational scenarios through the state of the art in this field, namely its impact upon: i) health and safety conditions (occupational approach) and ii) productivity (economic approach). This study is based on a bibliographic references research, as a support to structure developments carried out by different authors, with special focus on the relationship between hot thermal environments and productivity and work-related injury statistics. Work absence, lack of motivation, tiredness, absent-mindedness, humor and behaviour changes are common consequences of exposure to extreme high temperatures, whether indoors or outside. Other problems should be noted such as thermal shock and collapse, dehydration and demineralization, having various effects and can lead to scenarios of lack of skillness; loss of mental capacity; in the case of dehydration, increase in reaction time and can also cause chronic illnesses and in some cases death. Core body temperature rises and chronic exposures to high levels of heat stress are also associated to certain diseases, such as temporary infertility (both men and women), high heart rate, sleep disorders, tiredness and irritability.