Understanding Knowledge Level of The Thermal Implication and Its Effects Towards Physiological State in Construction Sector

Abstract

Heat stress normally known as a hidden cause of accidents in construction sectors. To ensure the productivity and health of workers in the construction site, it is necessary to evaluate the effects of temperature and relative humidity on the workers’ physiology under hot conditions. Hence, the aims of this paper are: (i) to investigate the knowledge of heat stress and workers perceptions on workers performance in construction site, (ii) to identify the environment factor of heat stress in the construction site and (iii) explore the measurement physiology parameters for heat stress. Heat stress questionnaires and experiment test were combined to extract useful information. An online survey was undertaken with a representative sample (N=292) from Malaysia construction sector. While, the experiment was carried out in a well-controlled climate chamber to obtain datasets with four conditions combining air temperature and relative humidity (32 °C/70 %, 34 °C/92, 34 °C/74% and 38 °C/83%). At a climate chamber, the subjects doing a job such as lifting and carry the 10 kg workload were exposed to different combinations of air temperatures and relative humidity. The subject’s physiological responses to the environment were then investigated. The survey’s finding showed 71.9% of the workers understand about heat stress. 22.6% of the workers perceive that the temperature is hot and quite hot and relative humidity result showed that 50.9 % of the workers perceived that part of their mouth and throat are dry while working. Besides, the experiment study showed that workers physical demands varies according to their work task with a combination of the influences from individual and environmental factors.