HEAT DISORDERS – COMPLEX DISEASE, SIMPLE SOLUTION
Heat disorders resulting from exposure to high temperature environments are preventable using simple interventions. The experience of heat disorders among workers close to a gas flare was assessed.
METHODS:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed among a group of workers at a gas plant using interviewer-administered, structured questionnaire to collect information on the workers’ sociodemographic characteristics and experience of symptoms of heat disorders. Physical examinations were also carried out and data retrieved from the clinic records on symptoms that required medical care.
RESULTS:
A total of 64 workers were evaluated with mean age 37.0±7.7 years. The mean ambient temperature overall was 35.9±5.5oC. The temperature varied from 46.18±6.7oC in the area closest to the flare to 32.28 ± 3.3 oC about 500m away from the flare. The self-reported symptoms of mild heat stress were skin rashes (93.8%), muscle cramps (79.2%) and dry mouth (60.4%). Self- reported symptoms of moderate to severe heat stress were similar to the outpatient clinic records and included irrational behaviour 47(88.7%), restlessness 42(79.2%) fainting spells 53(100%) and vomiting 51(83.6%). Physical examination revealed an increase in the number who had abnormal systolic blood pressure (SBP) from 51.6% to 54.7% most of the workers reported experiencing more heat (95.3%), sweating more (90.6%) and being more thirsty (93.8%) at work than in their residence. More than two-thirds (81.3%) drink above three litres of water in a day while 57 (89.1%) drink water most while at work especially during the day shift (60.9%). The preferred season was the wet/rainy season for 53 (82.8%) due to the coolness of the weather (49/76.6%).
CONCLUSIONS:
The control of morbidity secondary to heat exposure involves simple measures such drinking water that is fortified with electrolytes. Long term prevention through harvesting rather than flaring of natural gas is highly important in occupational settings.