The hygienic significance of the heating microclimate in the formation of health disorders of workers (review)

Abstract

The thermal effect of the working environment, leading to overheating of the body of workers, can manifest itself as thermal injuries, accompanied by a deterioration in well-being, a decrease in working capacity, and various health disorders. In addition, an increased air temperature can become a trigger for the activation of biological effects caused by other industrial factors— noise, vibration, harmful chemicals, physical exertion, the combined effect of which has a potentiating effect. The aim of the work was to analyze the literature data on the study of the negative impact of the heating microclimate on the health of workers and to determine measures for its prevention. The analysis of domestic and foreign sources of scientific information and publications contained in Russian and international search systems (databases eLIBRARY, PubMed, etc.) devoted to the study of the features of the formation of a heating environment and its influence on the formation of health disorders of workers in various industries and agriculture. The importance of studies of the heating microclimate as a factor of occupational health risk is shown, the directions of primary prevention of its negative impact, aimed at protecting against overheating and normalizing the thermal state of the workers’ body, are determined. Analysis of literature data allowed us to conclude that the negative health effects of the thermal effects of the working environment are currently insufficiently studied, further research is needed to assess occupational risks associated with its exposure, as well as the processes of adaptation to the thermal load of workers in various industries and agriculture, taking into account their specifics.