THERMAL STRESS, CARDIOVASCULAR STRESS AND WORK PRODUCTIVITY AMONG THE FEMALE BRICK FIELD WORKERS OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the thermal and cardiac stress among female brick field workers. Thermal and cardiac stress plays an important role in the ability to perform the work. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 112 female brick field workers from 12 brick fields of West Bengal, India. Thermal stress was also assessed by measuring the WBGT index. Cardiac strain in different seasons were measured in terms of work heart rate (WHR), relative cardiac cost (RCC), net cardiac cost (NCC), cardiovascular stress index (CSI) and other recovery indices among the female brick field workers. The net cardiac costs of the brick stackers were higher in comparison to brick moulders and carriers. NCC and the RCC levels were higher among the brick stackers than in other groups of brick field workers. The CSI levels were the maximum in the case of carrying raw mud activities. In these activities, the brick field workers changed their posture frequently during loading and unloading and walking with mud. The frequent change of postures imposed extra load on the cardiovascular system. This study concluded that due to heat stress, the productivity of the three groups of workers were affected.