Heat Stress

Labour productivity is a matter of concern is important in a company. Even the special attention of the owner of the company. This was due not least because the productivity of workers is very influential on the performance of the company in producing a product. If productivity rises, the quality and quantity of production will go up anyway, then corporate profits would be greater. One of the things that affect the productivity of workers due to the additional burden of work, the form factor of the physical, chemical, biological, physiological, psychological and mental. In this lab activity addresses one of the things included in the additional burden due to physical factors of work, ie work climate, which in turn related to heat stress. Work climate is one aspect that should be assessed for the prevention and control techniques in case of negative effects of heat stress on workers.
  Work climate is a combination of air temperature, air humidity, air movement velocity and temperature of radiation in a work environment. If the four factors associated with body heat production (metabolism), it is called heat stress. Additional burden caused by work in the form of heat can cause health problems in the workforce, such as is Heat Stroke, Heat Exhaustion, Dehydration, heat syncope, skin disorders and others. Workforce in order to avoid health problems, it has been determined limits for the workforce in a workplace. Temperatures in the workplace is recommended 24o - 26o C, the temperature of dry humidity 65% ​​- 95%, optimally in the body temperature of 36.5 o-39, 5 º C and room temperature are ideal for labor is 20o In principle source of heat comes from: 1. Local labor climate 2. Production processes and machinery 3. Muscle work
Examples of the workplace that can cause the heat source: 1. Production processes: melting, drying, heating, evaporation 2. Workplace that direct sun 3. Ventilation is inadequate workspace 4. Air space is hampered 5. Building materials made of heat conducting material 6. The production process with a certain temperature (too hot)
In addition to health problems from exposure to excessive environmental temperature heat such as that mentioned above. There is also another downside, according to Pulat (1992) that the body's physiological reaction because of an increase in air temperature outside the comfort zone that is: 1. Vasolidasi 2. Heart rate increased 3. Skin temperature increased 4. Core body temperature at first fell then rose and others.
It is obvious that the heat stress in the workplace is very influential on labor because with the pressure of excessive heat will cause negative impacts such as those described above.