Occupational Heat Stress Impact on Health and Productivity of Workers; in Pharmaceutical Industries of Twins Cities

Abstract

Background: Research shows that heat stress at work negatively impacts employees' health, productivity, poverty, and social disparity. By 2030, 70 million work years will be lost due to lower labor productivity and one million work years due to occupational heat stroke. Taiwanese laborers in industries like construction, farming, and fishing face increased health risks due to prolonged exposure to hot, muggy conditions. Local climate change increases the risk of occupational heat illness due to heat exposure. Heat stress causes workers to perform less well due to physiological processes and physical inability to work at the desired pace. Preventing or reducing physical activities that increase body heat production could shield vulnerable individuals and the public from the illness and mortality associated with heat waves. The European Commission is currently working to protect workers in important European businesses from the harmful effects of OH-Stress. Objectives: This study was conducted to access the occupational heat stress impact on physical health and productivity of workers; in pharmaceutical industries of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. It also to determine the association of Socioeconomic characteristics with heat stress. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Pharmaceutical Industry of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. A total 246 male participant were selected for the purpose of the study. Data about the heat stress were collected through an adapted questionnaire. Chi-square of independence was applied to check the association of socioeconomic characteristics with heat stress. Result: There was a statistically significant impact of heat stress on worker health and productivity in pharmaceutical industry. There was a statistically significant association of socioeconomic characteristics with heat stress. Conclusion: The results of this investigation consistently show statistically significant relationships between a number of variables and heat stress. A substantial link between the occurrence of heat stress and many variables, including education level, smoking status, working area/place, duration of employment, knowledge, awareness, and practice, is suggested by the low p-values across these variables. The idea that these variables are in fact connected to heat stress is supported by the fact that the null hypothesis was rejected in each instance. Notably, the productivity levels' p-value of 0.000 highlights a statistically significant relationship between productivity and heat stress, supporting the claim even more. These findings highlight how crucial it is to take these variables into account and deal with them when developing preventative and management plans for heat stress.