**8. Prevention and control**

Prevention is better than cure. It will be ideal for each worker to follow certain preventive measures to reduce the health impacts due to heat stress. The prevention methods may vary with different occupational sectors. The occupational sectors can broadly be classified in to outdoor (Unorganized) and indoor sector (organized). Adequate rest, following work rest cycle, providing adequate fluid during work time can be followed as a preventive measure in outdoor sector. Along with these measures, engineering intervention such as providing fan, coolers, PPE can also be followed in indoor sectors as prevention and control measures. Health education about the heat stress and its health impacts will greatly help to reduce the burden of the disease [6].


## **9. Adaptive measures**

Heat exposure levels can be lowered by use of certain control measures such as engineering intervention (Proving fan, coolers), personal protective equipments, proper ventilation, adequate rest, following work rest cycle as per ACGIH guidelines, providing adequate fluid to prevent dehydration, periodic medical checkup, etc. Special attention should be provided to aged workers and also to workers with significant medical illness. Health education to workers regarding heat related illness and ways to prevent it can help in reducing the morbidity. Studies of this kind using mapping can help in detecting the vulnerable areas inside the industry and also can protect the workers health. All workers should be made aware of the heat levels in all the areas inside the industry and should be instructed to take all precautionary measures while working in high heat generating areas. Engineering controls like by providing fan, adequate ventilation in working environment and by following work rest cycle as per ACGIH guidelines can protect the workers health. These recommendations could help the workers to protect their health from heat related illness.

#### **10. Conclusion**

Occupational heat stress will cause potential negative health with wellbeing outcome. The industries (Management) and the workers should be educated about the health impacts of occupational heat stress. Proper measures should be laid down to prevent the heat related illness which can be helpful to reduce the morbidity and mortality that may indirectly improve the community economy.

**155**

**Author details**

Krishnan Srinivasan\*, Smisha Mohan and Jeneth Berlin Raj T

Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Puducherry, India

provided the original work is properly cited.

\*Address all correspondence to: drkrish10@gmail.com

Department of Physiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

*Occupational Heat Stress: A Technical Scan DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93900* *Occupational Heat Stress: A Technical Scan DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93900*

*Occupational Wellbeing*

the disease [6].

worker

**9. Adaptive measures**

**8. Prevention and control**

Prevention is better than cure. It will be ideal for each worker to follow certain preventive measures to reduce the health impacts due to heat stress. The prevention methods may vary with different occupational sectors. The occupational sectors can broadly be classified in to outdoor (Unorganized) and indoor sector (organized). Adequate rest, following work rest cycle, providing adequate fluid during work time can be followed as a preventive measure in outdoor sector. Along with these measures, engineering intervention such as providing fan, coolers, PPE can also be followed in indoor sectors as prevention and control measures. Health education about the heat stress and its health impacts will greatly help to reduce the burden of

• Educating the management and administrative members to provide training to

• Advised workers to consult doctor if any health problem is noticed by the

• Suggestions for engineering intervention such as proper ventilation, exhaust,

Heat exposure levels can be lowered by use of certain control measures such as engineering intervention (Proving fan, coolers), personal protective equipments, proper ventilation, adequate rest, following work rest cycle as per ACGIH guidelines, providing adequate fluid to prevent dehydration, periodic medical checkup, etc. Special attention should be provided to aged workers and also to workers with significant medical illness. Health education to workers regarding heat related illness and ways to prevent it can help in reducing the morbidity. Studies of this kind using mapping can help in detecting the vulnerable areas inside the industry and also can protect the workers health. All workers should be made aware of the heat levels in all the areas inside the industry and should be instructed to take all precautionary measures while working in high heat generating areas. Engineering controls like by providing fan, adequate ventilation in working environment and by following work rest cycle as per ACGIH guidelines can protect the workers health. These recommendations could help the workers to protect their health from heat

Occupational heat stress will cause potential negative health with wellbeing outcome. The industries (Management) and the workers should be educated about the health impacts of occupational heat stress. Proper measures should be laid down to prevent the heat related illness which can be helpful to reduce the morbidity and

mortality that may indirectly improve the community economy.

the workers regarding heat strain at the time of employment

• Periodic health assessment of the workers (health surveillance)

• Health education is very important for the workers.

work rest cycle can be given to the management

**154**

related illness.

**10. Conclusion**
