Study of heat exposure in the work environment in Jeddah

The present work was conducted to define the magnitude of the problem of heat exposure in Jeddah and the role of both the climatic and the industrial factors on the total heat load. Indoor heat exposure was studied in an industrial complex of 5 plants for cables' manufacturing. Outdoor heat exposure was studied in shaded and unshaded operations in Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP). The heat exposure parameters, including air temperature (Ta), wet bulb temperature (Tw), and globe temperature (Tg), as well as the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) heat stress index, the relative humidity and the air velocity, were assessed at representative locations. Results of the study indicated that:

Study of summer heat exposure at the ground services operations of a main international airport in Saudi Arabia

Summer heat in coastal subtropical Jeddah, augmented by heat from operating ground servicing equipment in King Abdul-Aziz International Airport (KAAIA), presents a major occupational problem to ground service operators, particularly the air traffic control coordinator (ATCC), that hinders their work efficiency and induces health disorders to them. The present study was conducted to assess the magnitude of this problem and propose heat control strategy and remedial actions for the Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA). Heat parameters including air temperature (T (a)), wet bulb temperature (T (w)), globe temperature (T (g)) and air velocity were measured around serviced planes and in other locations used by ATCC, and the WBGT and the ATCC-WBGT-TWAs were computed. Mostly all the T (a) measurements, and many T (w) measurements, were higher than T (a) and T (w) forecasted by the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) due to heat dissipated from operating vehicles and equipment in service. The measured and PME forecasted parameters have good and medium linear correlations (T (a): r (2) = 0.74 and T (w): r (2) = 0.64). The computed WBGT in the service stations around planes are considerably higher than the 25 and 27.5 degrees C recommended TLV(R) for non-acclimatized and acclimatized operators. However, the computed ATCC- WBGT-TWA levels indicate that the shift-work-schedule which was recommended to be implemented by SAUDIA has successfully reduced their heat exposure to acceptable levels, except for a very few operators (6.7% exceeding WBGT-TLV(R) of 25 degrees C and 2.2% exceeding TLV(R) of 27.5 degrees C) for whom the shift-work schedules might be corrected to achieve safe heat exposure.     

Noise exposure as related to productivity, disciplinary actions, absenteeism, and accidents among textile workers

A sample of 2458 workers exposed to average noise levels ranging from 80 to 99 dBA in different operations of three textile mills was studied with respect to their productivity, work rule violations, absenteeism, and accidents. The three mills were in rural, suburban, and urban locations. Noise exposure levels were measured in individual departments of the mills, and workers were interviewed to ascertain socioeconomic background, work history data, and health status. Workers' job attitude was rated by their supervisors, and data about their productivity, disciplinary reports, absenteeism, and accidents were collected from plant records. Results of the study suggested that workers in departments with high noise levels (above 90 dBA) had more disciplinary actions and absenteeism and lesser productivity than those in departments with low noise exposure (below 90 dBA). Disciplinary actions showed the greatest difference between the high-noise and low-noise departments followed by production incentives, production efficiency, and absenteeism. Noise appeared to affect the quality of work as reflected by disciplinary actions for material damage, and this effect was higher in weaving and spinning operations which involved vigilance tasks. The frequency and severity rates of accidents in highnoise departments were greater than in low-noise departments. Certain personal and socioeconomic factors affected high vs. low noise exposure differences found among workers for the investigated variables. These effects were most apparent for absenteeism and, to a lesser extent, productivity. Disciplinary actions did not appear to be influenced by any such individual factors. It was concluded that noise abatement in the textile industry could be beneficial to worker productivity and well being and contribute to more economically effective operation.     

Study of heat exposure during Hajj (pilgrimage)

Heat stress presents a main problem to Muslim Hajeej (pilgrims) during Hajj (pilgrimage) season, particularly in summer. Records of the Saudi Ministry of Health show close relation between heat casualties and climatic heat load through consequent Hajj seasons. The present study was conducted to evaluate the climatic heat load in Hajj locations during summer of 1995 as well as just before and during the Hajj season of 1997. Heat measurements including: T (a), T (w), T (g), WBGT, relative humidity and air velocity were conducted through July-September 1995, and on March/April 1997, in 10 Hajj locations at morning, noon, afternoon and night. The highest WBGTs were at Haram court, Ghazzah area and Muna housing area, followed by Arafat areas and Muzdalefah, and the lowest at Azizia area. However, all the WBGTs were considerably higher than the ACGIH-TLV for safe heat exposure, particularly during daytime; meanwhile, heat exposure considerably exceeded the ASHRAE comfort zone at all locations all times. The natural climatic condition is a major contributing factor to the overall heat load; moreover, potentiated by heat dissipated from Hajj activities, including Hajeej crowds, human activities, and the vehicles' masses exhaust. This situation is further synergized by some pilgrims' misbehavior (e.g. living in open sunny areas, using vehicles without roofs) and lack of awareness of the seriousness of heat exposure among them. An outline for a control strategy has been suggested based on planting open areas of Arafat and Muna, provision of air conditioned housing and tents in Muna, segregation of pedestrians from vehicles and their provision of shaded roads and rest areas, establishing more water spatters in Arafat and Muna, checking the performance of large vehicles before issuing their permits for operation during Hajj, providing vehicles parking isolated areas away from Hajeej tents, provision of ample amounts of quality drinking water in all Hajj locations, provision of ample optimal ambulance services, and dissemination of educational information to Hajeej for their taking advantage of Fiqh (religion rules) waivers in performing Hajj rituals to minimize their heat exposure, and for their personal protection.     

Appraisal of work hazards and safety in the industrial estate of Jeddah

An environmental study for the appraisal of work hazards and safety in Jeddah Industrial Estate (JIE), Saudi Arabia has been conducted. The study is based upon a representative (stratified random) sample of 44 enterprises, including 52 plants and employing 5830 workers. Nearly 2/3 of the workers have heat exposure, orginating from climatic heat and heat dissipated from industrial operations, while exposure to noise is slightly less, and is attributed to noisy operations and machinery and to lack of meticulous maintenance; both exposures are mild in most of the plants and moderate in some. Mild exposures to nonionizing radiations (UV and IR) and to deficient illumination occur in 25% and 19.2% of the plants studied. Respiratory exposure to chemical agents (organic and inorganic dusts, metal fumes, gases and vapours — including asphyxiants, irritants, liver and nervous system offenders and acid and alkali mists) occurs in 75% of the plants, particularly in the medium-size enterprises plants; however, is mainly mild with a few moderate and severe exposures. Skin absorption contributes to absorption of chemical agents in 29% of the plants, and direct skin contact to chemicals (particularly to lubricating oils) occurs in 81% of the plants. Meanwhile, only eight plants, out of the 32 plants where controls for physical hazards are required (51.2%), apply engineering controls, and even in a few of these plants the efficiency of the control measures has been rated ‘bad’. A few of them provide personal protective equipment, and even no maintenance to this equipment is provided. The level of safety is better in the large plants than in the small and medium-size plants; the safety score is the best in the recently established plants, while is the worst in the plastic industry, which is relatively old. The appraisal of fire protection is better than that of the safety, due to efficient supervision of the General Directorate of Civil Defense (GDCD). However, most of the safety problems are managerial and are preventable. First aid is present in all enterprises, as required by the Saudi Labor Laws; however, an in-plant medical service is present in 75% of the large enterprises, in 31.6% of the medium-size and in only 17.6% of the small enterprises. Also, satisfactory medical, accidents and absenteeism records exist in only 15.9% of the enterprises; safety supervision exists in 27.3, and safety education exists in 91% of them, while no environmental monitoring is carried out in any enterprise. Sanitation facilities exist in satisfactory numbers in most of the enterprises; however, their maintenance is poor in most of them, due to lack of hygienic supervision. All enterprises dispose of their liquid wastes into the JIE sewerage system without any treatment, while the solid wastes are collected by the city authorities in 56.8% of them; both wastes are anticipated to cause environmental pollution problems.     

Noise pollution in textile,printing and publishing industries in Saudi Arabia

A study of 20 factories belonging to textile, printing, publishing and paper products industries in Jeddah was conducted.Data on Leq, Maximum and Minimum SPL at different octave bands, as well as dBA, were collected. It has been found that textile,publishing and paper products industries are the most noisy industries. The paper is concluded with suitable recommendationfor noise control and worker protection.