초록
Objectives: This study aims to analyze the working environment of thermal power plant maintenance workers and their awareness of heat illnesses in order to propose heat prevention measures for this high-heat environment in order to improve their working environment and health status. Methods: Using the data of heat dissipation measurement and working environment measurement of units 3~6 of A power plant, we explored the seasonal fluctuations of the heat index and conducted a survey using the Ministry of Employment and Labor's self-diagnosis checklist for 143 workers. We examined how pre-work physical condition and heat illness vulnerability checks affect the experience of heat stress. The survey data were analyzed using logistic regression, independent samples t-test, and ANOVA. Results: 64% of the survey respondents reported experiencing heat stress, with 18.2% reporting a very strong experience. Worker factors were associated with a 33% increase in the likelihood of experiencing heat stress among those aged 50 or younger and a 1.081-fold increase in the likelihood of experiencing heat stress among those with 10 or more years of work experience. The factors of heat awareness, heat wave awareness, and management support have a negative but insignificant effect on heat illness experience, while worker job characteristics have a positive effect. Conclusions: Depending on job characteristics, even healthy workers are more likely to experience heat illness symptoms and have a basic awareness of the risks and heat illnesses due to heat prevention efforts. Furthermore, preventive measures for working environments that affect the experience of heat stress are suggested, such as continuous measurement of heat index, accurate estimation of work metabolism, and continuous risk assessment system based on WBGT.
