Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25373413›Full record

ArticleGlobal health action2014

Occupational heat stress and associated productivity loss estimation using the PHS model (ISO 7933): a case study from workplaces in Chennai, India.

Karin Lundgren, Kalev Kuklane, Vidhya Venugopal

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Global health action, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 57 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. High levels of heat stress among sugarcane workers in Thailand.Annals of work exposures and health · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Heat Strain Evaluation of Power Grid Outdoor Workers Based on a Human Bioheat Model.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022
    Article
  11. Physiological impacts on construction workers under extremely hot and humid weather.International archives of occupational and environmental health · 2022
    Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Is There a Need to Integrate Human Thermal Models with Weather Forecasts to Predict Thermal Stress?International journal of environmental research and public health · 2019
    Review
  17. Article
  18. Review
  19. Article
  20. Challenges of using air conditioning in an increasingly hot climate.International journal of biometeorology · 2018
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Karin LundgrenThermal Environment Laboratory, Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; karin.lundgren@design.lth.se.
Kalev KuklaneThermal Environment Laboratory, Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Vidhya VenugopalDepartment of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India.
Lund University · SESri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research · IN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHeat stress is a major occupational problem in India that can cause adverse health effects and reduce work productivity. This paper explores this problem and its impacts in selected workplaces, including industrial, service, and agricultural sectors in Chennai, India.

designQuantitative measurements of heat stress, workload estimations, and clothing testing, and qualitative information on health impacts, productivity loss, etc., were collected. Heat strain and associated impacts on labour productivity between the seasons were assessed using the International Standard ISO 7933:2004, which applies the Predicted Heat Strain (PHS) model. RESULTS AND

conclusionsAll workplaces surveyed had very high heat exposure in the hot season (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature =29.7), often reaching the international standard safe work values (ISO 7243:1989). Most workers had moderate to high workloads (170-220 W/m2), with some exposed to direct sun. Clothing was found to be problematic, with high insulation values in relation to the heat exposure. Females were found to be more vulnerable because of the extra insulation added from wearing a protective shirt on top of traditional clothing (0.96 clo) while working. When analysing heat strain--in terms of core temperature and dehydration--and associated productivity loss in the PHS model, the parameters showed significant impacts that affected productivity in all workplaces, apart from the laundry facility, especially during the hot season. For example, in the canteen, the core temperature limit of 38°C predicted by the model was reached in only 64 min for women. With the expected increases in temperature due to climate change, additional preventive actions have to be implemented to prevent further productivity losses and adverse health impacts. Overall, this study presented insight into using a thermo-physiological model to estimate productivity loss due to heat exposure in workplaces. This is the first time the PHS model has been used for this purpose. An exploratory approach was taken for further development of the model.

Indexed as

Hot TemperatureAdultClothingEfficiencyFemaleHeat Stress DisordersHumansIndiaMaleOccupational DiseasesOccupational ExposureOccupationsRisk FactorsSex FactorsWorkloadclimate changeIndiainternational standardsoccupational heat stressproductivity

Identifiers

PMID25373413
PMCPMC4221496
OpenAlexW2063155592

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.